One Mysterious Night (1944)

Blackie is enlisted by the police to help recover the Blue Star of the Nile diamond, stolen from a war relief exhibit.

Director:

Budd Boetticher

Writers:

Jack Boyle (character), Paul Yawitz

Stars:

Chester Morris, Janis Carter, William Wright

Cast

Cast overview:
Chester Morris	...	Horatio 'Boston Blackie' Black
Janis Carter	...	Dorothy Anderson
William Wright	...	Paul Martens
Richard Lane	...	Inspector Farraday
George E. Stone	...	The Runt
Robert Williams	...	Matt Healy
Mark Roberts	...	George Daley (as Robert E. Scott)

Storyline

Blackie is enlisted by the police to help recover the Blue Star of the Nile diamond, stolen from a war relief exhibit.

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Plot Keywords:

blue star of the nile | diamond | boston blackie | sequel

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 1944 (USA)

Also Known As:

Behind Closed Doors

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

61 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Chester Morris hails a taxi you can see three banks of lights shadowed against the taxi.

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Connections

Followed by Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion (1945)

User Reviews

Blackie is deputized

The famous Blue Star diamond is on display at a war fund benefit. Cops are everywhere to prevent any funny business, but—what's this? A sudden row in the gallery, a bunch of noise and commotion, and…the diamond is gone! (It looked pretty easy to me, actually.)

Of course, Inspector Farraday jumps immediately to the conclusion that the only man who could have stolen the diamond is Boston Blackie. But just a moment; it is soon revealed that his loud accusation is nothing other than Farraday's way of "sending for" Blackie. Sure enough, Blackie soon arrives at Farraday's desk and—in a nice new twist to the series—Farraday explains to Blackie that he needs his help: "Now you can call me anything you like, but I'm deputizing you as my assistant on this case, and I'm not taking no for an answer!" The Runt is doubtful, but Blackie readily agrees, is handed a badge, and gets right to work on a disguise or two.

The plot revolving around the stolen gem involves a young man mixed up with a gang of crooks, and the worried sister who lives with and tries to guide him. The sister is played by a very young Dorothy Malone, who has a small role but puts in a fine bit of actual dramatic acting in the scene in which she chews out her brother for falling in with the bad guys.

Chester Morris and Richard Lane are, as always, fun to watch as Blackie and Farraday, and seeing them as a "team" (with the exception of a brief spell where Farraday revives his habitual old suspicions) adds a bit of new life to this episode. George E. Stone as the Runt is faithful but worried as the loyal assistant.

We never do find out, however, just how blond reporter Janis Carter is able to see through Blackie's disguise so quickly. But she sure seems to enjoy chasing him around for the whole movie!