ksf-2
The first film that Seymour Friedman directed, according to wikipedia. Blackie and his sidekick the runt agree to help at a dinner party for friend Doris (June Vincent). They will keep an eye out for thieves, and of course, all hell breaks loose while they are on scene. Chester Morris was Boston Blackie in numerous films prior to this, but would only play it one more time after this. For some reason, Blackie and runt dress up as Doris' parents, with Runt in drag. Over the river and and through the woods for this one... although its only 67 minutes. Something about stolen pearls at the dinner party, and the pearls keep changing locations. Gets confusing...pretty much everyone in the film gets accused of being the thief at some point, except for the cops. And as usual, the cops are a couple of goofballs, insulting each other. Not the best chapter in the Blackie series, but if its the only thing on, one might watch it. I guess they were running out of strong story lines by this time.
bkoganbing
Back in Boston Blackie's days as a society burglar this is just the kind of caper that would have been something he pulled. For once Inspector Farraday's suspicions are not completely out of the realm of possibilities.After the head of a detective agency gets bumped off in a suspicious car accident Chester Morris and George E. Stone get hired by the widow to guard some valuable pearls at a society party. The two are disguised as Hindu fakirs, but the pearls are clipped in any event and when Richard Lane sees Morris and Stone, that's all he has to know.Once again Boston Blackie has to solve the case in order to clear himself. This is a good film, but the premise was really getting old by now.
blanche-2
Much as I like Chester Morris and the Boston Blackie series, when you see these films in close proximity to one another, the formula becomes a little bit of a bore.Blackie (Morris) and The Runt (George E. Stone) are given the assignment of guarding a woman who is wearing her very expensive pearls at a party. Guess what. They're stolen and Inspector Farraday (Richard Lane) and company blame Blackie. So he has to clear himself by finding them.There were some cute scenes in this film, the best when Blackie with a mustache goes to a dance school to take lessons. He's hilarious, talking about from the time he was so high - no, this high, he's wanted to dance. "I'm a bird in a cage," he says. "Dancing will release me." June Vincent is a beautiful blonde who gives the film some real class - she really should have had a better career in films. She never moved up from the Bs. She moved into television in the '50s and did very well.I never understand how Farraday can't see right through all those disguises, but I guess you have to go along with the illusion of film.Morris gives the film a light, relaxed touch, and thank goodness because he keeps these movies going. This particular film is okay, worth seeing for Blackie trying to infiltrate his way into the dance studio and for seeing them pose as husband and wife - a riot.This was George E. Stone's last appearance as The Runt.
Michael O'Keefe
Seymour Friedman directs this the twelfth in Columbia Picutre's "Boston Blackie" series. Horatio "Boston Blackie" Black(Chester Morris)is assigned to protect a priceless pearl necklace that a socialite intends to show off at a swanky party. The private dick officially assigned to guard the necklace is found dead and the baubles are nowhere to be found. Now "Blackie" is on the spot; he must locate the real crook before he is arrested on suspicion. His reputation and life may be at stake. Atmospheric crime tale. Great photography. Also among the players: George E. Stone, Richard Lane, June Vincent, Frank Sully, Patricia Barry, and Sarah Shelby.
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