... Blackie has a good heart, an unnamed profession now that he's not a thief anymore, and more supporting and supportive characters than about any other B movie detective. Runt in particular deserves credit for the rapport he has with his boss; Farraday exudes equal parts suspicion and camaraderie with Blackie, while Matthews is sweetly dumb as a post. The plot involves a vaudeville troupe rollicking upstate to entertain at Sing Sing on a bus driven by Lloyd Bridges, stolidly looking ahead to his stellar future while changing the bus's gears in character. Adele Mara is pretty and competent in her actionful part of clearing her brother's name.
It was particularly noticeable that 1942's Alias Boston Blackie proved one of the reasons to appreciate B movies, in that their short production time allowed many topical subjects. In this film, the lines "what is this, a concentration camp?" and Run calling a stickler for rules cop "Gestapo!" remind viewers when this movie takes place.
It was particularly noticeable that 1942's Alias Boston Blackie proved one of the reasons to appreciate B movies, in that their short production time allowed many topical subjects. In this film, the lines "what is this, a concentration camp?" and Run calling a stickler for rules cop "Gestapo!" remind viewers when this movie takes place.