Meet Boston Blackie (1941)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Robert Florey

Writers:

Jack Boyle (character)
Jay Dratler (story)

Release Date:

20 February 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

1941'S HEADLINE MENACE! (original print media ad - all caps)

Plot:

When a murder occurs on an ocean liner docked in New York, the trail leads to Coney Island and a spy ring. |

Plot Keywords:

New York | Coney Island | Spy | Murder | Wheelchair

Cast

Chester Morris	...	Boston Blackie
Rochelle Hudson	...	Cecelia Bradley
Richard Lane	...	Inspector Faraday
Charles Wagenheim	...	The Runt
Constance Worth	...	Marilyn Howard
Jack O'Malley	...	Monk
George Magrill	...	Georgie
Michael Rand	...	Mechanical Man

Runtime:

60 min (copyright length) (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #7045) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

A Hollywood Reporter production chart listed George E. Stone as a cast member, but he was not seen in the film. Stone replaced Charles Wagenheim as "The Runt" in later films in the series.

Goofs:

Continuity: Blackie uses a round-back chair to lock Cecelia in her wall bed. When the police arrive and free her, they remove a different square-back arm chair.

Quotes:

Cecelia Bradley: You thrive on this sort of excitement, don't you?
Horatio 'Boston Blackie' Black: Well, it's better than vegetating.
Cecelia Bradley: Couldn't anyone ever make you live like other people do?
Horatio 'Boston Blackie' Black: You mean a normal life with a social security number and a bank book?
[Chuckles]
Horatio 'Boston Blackie' Black: I'm afraid not.
Cecelia Bradley: Not anyone?
Horatio 'Boston Blackie' Black: Unh-unh.
Cecelia Bradley: Why?
Horatio 'Boston Blackie' Black: Because she'd probably want to wait up for me nights with a light burning in the window.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Follows Blackie's Redemption (1919)

Soundtrack:

Santa Lucia

Movie Audience, Boston Blackie.... Boston Blackie, Movie Audience

Blackie arrives back in the US (via steamer) only to find himself in trouble with the law again when he finds a corpse, Martin Vestrick, in his stateroom. Blackie trails Marilyn Howard, who was seen with Vestrick by Blackie and Runt on the ship, to Coney Island where a group of spies meet at the freak show exhibit. Marilyn is later killed when she goes on the Tunnel of Horrors ride with Blackie, and the same killers go after our hero. Blackie forces a ride with Cecelia Bradley, an innocent bystander, and the two manage to elude the killers. Inspector Faraday, in the meantime, goes after Blackie for the murder of Marilyn, while Blackie, Cecelia, and the Runt try to unravel the spy activities at the amusement park. Nice opening to this 14 film series, with Chester Morris providing the jovial attitude seen in his other movies and beneficial to the character (also nice to see some of Morris' magic tricks as well). Rochelle Hudson was very beautiful here and lent fine support. I was impressed with Florey's direction and Planer's camera-work giving us some interesting perspectives and camera angles. My beef with this film was that there was little action with the villains in the movie, seeing the case from Blackie's perspective. Next film in the series: Confessions of Boston Blackie. Rating, 8.