Boston Blackie (TV Series) Queen of Thieves (1952) User Reviews

Quite enjoyable but far from subtle!!

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 2 November 2012]

This is probably one of the more enjoyable episodes of the Boston Blackie TV show, but it also suffers from being far from subtle! On balance, however, it's well worth seeing.

A woman nicknamed 'Needles' is in charge of a local gang intent on a museum robbery. However, one of her gang members goes to Blackie to tell him what is afoot--but the man is soon nearly killed and cannot remember who he is, let alone what is about to transpire. Blackie's trail leads to Needles and she lays it on thick (VERY thick) about being a sweet old lady--but he sees right through this piranha! This leads to a very funny showdown that more than makes up for Needle's VERY unsubtle characterization!

Colorful Characters Carry The Show

[dougdoepke · 26 June 2017]

No film with scary Skelton Knaggs should be passed up. His, I dare say, is the most distinctive face in all Hollywood, and certainly no competition for Tyrone Power. As a small-time pick-pocket, he's perfect. All in all, the episode depends more on colorful characters and an ancient car than on plot. I love it when Blackie's torpedo car gets behind that ancient flivver on the old road. What a Detroit contrast. And catch Mary Young as everybody's sweet old grandmother, that is, if you're a gangster. She's running a criminal gang of some sort that's up to something or other, which isn't too important anyway. In fact, her sudden personality switches may make you rethink the whole idea of lovable old ladies. It's a heckuva performance. Meanwhile, Blackie and Mary are on their trail, though mostly in the background. And catch that really badly done road accident. Now, I'm willing to minimize low-budget staging, but this slow motion event is too much even for me. All in all, it's casting that carries the half-hour. And a colorful one it is.