Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) goes undercover as an expert on rare books and winds up accused of murder by Inspector Farraday (Richard Lane). You could pretty much write your own Boston Blackie plot description similar to this and not be far off from the real thing. For example: Boston Blackie goes to the grocery store and finds the clerk dead. Inspector Farraday shows up and immediately thinks Blackie is the murderer. That's how the basic plot to every Boston Blackie movie breaks down. It's even more silly when you consider that Blackie was a renowned jewel thief, not a killer, so there's no real basis for Farraday to always assume the worst about him.
My gentle criticisms of the series aside, they were always pretty entertaining movies. Yes they were one of the more repetitive detective series made in the '30s and '40s. They were also lots of fun with a likable cast and typically a brisk pace. In addition to the regulars, this one also features pretty Lynn Merrick. One other criticism is that this film reuses a gag from a previous Boston Blackie film where he smears soot on his face and masquerades as a black man to slip past the dimwitted cops. Of all the tacky gags to reuse they choose that one!
My gentle criticisms of the series aside, they were always pretty entertaining movies. Yes they were one of the more repetitive detective series made in the '30s and '40s. They were also lots of fun with a likable cast and typically a brisk pace. In addition to the regulars, this one also features pretty Lynn Merrick. One other criticism is that this film reuses a gag from a previous Boston Blackie film where he smears soot on his face and masquerades as a black man to slip past the dimwitted cops. Of all the tacky gags to reuse they choose that one!