The Phantom Thief (1946)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

D. Ross Lederman

Writers:

Jack Boyle (character)
G.A. Snow (story)

Release Date:

2 May 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

Boston Blackie's Eeriest Adventure! (original poster)

Plot:

Blackie tricks a blackmailer-murderer into a confession. Story involves sinister seances and ghostly apparitions.

Plot Keywords:

Spiritualist | Murder | Spiritualism | Murderer | Series

Cast

Chester Morris	...	Horatio 'Boston Blackie' Black
Jeff Donnell	...	Anne Parks Duncan
Richard Lane	...	Inspector John Farraday
Dusty Anderson	...	Sandra
George E. Stone	...	The Runt
Frank Sully	...	Detective Sergeant Matthews
Marvin Miller	...	Dr. Nejino
Wilton Graff	...	Rex Duncan
Murray Alper	...	Eddie Alexander, Chauffeur
Forbes Murray	...	Dr. Purcell Nash
Joseph Crehan	...	'Jumbo' Madigan - Pawnbroker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Edmund Cobb	...	Policeman (scenes deleted)

Runtime:

65 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:Approved (PCA #11500)

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Movie Connections:

Followed by "Boston Blackie" (1951)

Despite a few familiar story elements, this one is different enough to make it a welcome addition to the series

I have now seen every Boston Blackie film with Chester Morris but one and I can say that the series is a very mixed bag. Though the films started off extremely well (blending a nice mixture of action and comedy), they also suffered terribly from repetitive plots. It was as if Columbia Pictures could have cared less that in EVERY episode you have the ignorant Inspector Farraday and his idiotic Sergeant accusing Blackie of whatever crimes are committed--even though in every movie it turns out that not only is Blackie innocent but he solves the crime himself. This schtick gets pretty old after a while and no cop can be half as stupid as Farraday or his sub-human assistant. Plus, plot elements are often recycled (such as two movies where Blackie performs a magic show at a prison and a prisoner uses this to escape, stolen jewels again and again as well as Blackie and Runt dressing up as Black cleaning ladies, etc., etc., etc.). Forutately, aside from the moronic inspector and sidekick, this film IS different and doesn't have that recycled feel to it--with a nifty plot involving a phony psychic and, of course, a murder! The usual good acting and fast pace are of course present and make for an enjoyable romp.