Showing posts with label 1940s. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1940s. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

The Falcon in Hollywood (1944)

Another in the long-running Falcon series, this time taking a behind the scenes look at the magic of Hollywood.

The Falcon (Tom Conway) goes after a young woman who has accidentally taken the purse of his friend. He trails her to a movie studio and discovers she is the actress Peggy Callaghan (Barbara Hale). While at the studio backlot, The Falcon hears a gunshot, but this isn't part of a movie script! A real murder has taken place and somehow involves the pretentious producer Dwyer (John Abbott), Peggy and a gangster.

The Falcon is helped (or hindered) by taxi driver Billie (Veda Ann Borg) and definitely hindered by the law in this typically fast paced and light crime romp. A fine film, the behind the scenes look at the movie making business is always interesting and avoids being too self-indulgent.

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

The Echo Murders (1945)

A rip roaring Sexton Blake adventure, don't expect half measures!


An explosion at a mine causes the owner (Julien Mitchell) to sack the manager (Dennis Price), his daughter's (Pamela Stirling) beau. The owner is being blackmailed by his secretary. The owner is murdered, suspicion falls on the ex-manager but Sexton Blake (David Farrar) is called in to investigate. He begins to unravel a complicated plot which eventually leads to Nazi fifth columnists in their underground lair.

This isn't a subtle film but Sexton Blake adventures were very much Boy's Own adventures which were all about daring do and death defying action rather than careful investigation. There is probably a little too much adventure packed into this film, at times it is hard to follow what is going on though it all leads up to the expected final battle. It is nonsense of course but i loved it, Sexton Blake adventures were my great-grandfather's favourite so i guess it's in the blood!

Monday, November 13, 2023

Meet Boston Blackie (1941)

The first of fourteen Boston Blackie films made in the 1940s starring Chester Morris.


Boston Blackie (Morris), the famous former jewel thief, has arrived back in New York on the trans-Atlantic ocean liner. He tries to strike up a conversation with fellow passenger Marilyn (Constance Worth) but is rebuffed, but soon he discovers the dead body of a man who had been hassling her in his cabin! With Inspector Faraday (Richard Lane) keen to question him for some jewel thefts, Blackie gives the law the slip in order to pursue Marilyn.

He tracks her to Coney Island amusement park, amid the freak shows Marilyn is killed by some men. Boston Blackie now has to clear his name and unravel a complicated plot involving enemy agents and US Navy technology... and a man who pretends to be a robot.

The first in the series, not everything is as smooth as some of the other entries in the series, there is a bit less humour and charm by Blackie. The Runt is also played by a different actor (Charles Wagenheim). Rochelle Hudson plays Blackie's charming female assistant. This is an enjoyable B-movie crime romp though and you can see why it led to a lengthy series.

Monday, November 6, 2023

The Falcon Strikes Back (1943)

The Falcon died in the previous film in the series but his brother now takes over the name and role...

An amount of war bonds are stolen. The (new) Falcon (Tom Conway), who has been employed by a mysterious woman, is framed for the theft. The Falcon manages to escape the law and seeks to clear his name. After a bit of sleuthing he heads to a hotel at a rural retreat and uncovers a nefarious plot involving stolen bonds, murder and ..er.. puppets.

This is a fine enough film with the usual romp of red herrings and antics. The Falcon is assisted by perky reporter Marcia (Jane Randolph) and his butler Jerry (Richard Loo). The film has a nicely unexpected ultimate villain.

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Boston Blackie and the Law (1946)

Boston Blackie has to clear his name and catch the real criminal (as usual).

Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) is in a woman's prison doing a magic show. One of the inmates Dinah Moran (Constance Dowling) manages to escape during one of the tricks! Blackie is of course accused of helping her escape by Inspector Farraday (Richard Lane). Boston has to prove his innocence, he thinks Dinah is after the stolen money from her crime which had never been recovered. Blackie tracks down Dinah's ex-husband (Warren Ashe) who is a magician too! Blackie takes his identity knowing that Dinah will not be far behind and maybe will lead him to the stolen money. However, Blackie has to deal with another unexpected foe too...

Another decent entry in the Boston Blackie series though the comedy antics and stupidity of Farraday and Matthews (Frank Sully) are maybe dialed up a little too high. Some nice twists and crime fighting antics, even if credibility is stretched a bit at times.

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Criminals Within (1941)

A somewhat confusing but energetic early wartime spy romp.


After a scientist is murdered by foreign agents, his brother who is an NCO in the US Army goes AWOL to try and find the murderers. Unfortunately for Carroll (Eric Linden), Army Intelligence think he is linked in the murders somehow and has a list of other scientists which the agents want to get their hands on. Carroll thus has to avoid his own side while uncovering the agents, some of whom are close to home...

As usual with films of this type a lot is packed into a short run time, with plenty of tangents and red herrings. At times it can be confusing though the conclusion is straight forward enough. This is a solid enough spy drama although little stands out of the ordinary.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Dangerous Lady (1941)

A sometimes confusing but pretty competent crime drama.

Private detective Dick (Neil Hamilton) and his wife Phyllis (June Storey), a lawyer, are employed to help prove the innocence of Hester (Evelyn Brent) who has been accused of murdering a judge. Some people know the truth but they are killed by the real murderer! Dick also finds himself under fire as a dangerous game for Dick and Phyllis begins...

This film is fine and has a lot to enjoy about it though is like many films of the period in that it tries to pack in two hours of plot into a film half the length. This doesn't always work that well but isn't too bad here. The film has some good interplay between the mains, some mystery and a car chase so should satisfy.

Thursday, October 12, 2023

The Last Crooked Mile (1946)

An interesting variation on the armed robbery story.

The Jarvis gang steal money from a bank, the gang are eventually hunted down and killed by the police but the loot is not recovered. Insurance investigator Tom (Don Red Barry) is on the case, he thinks the key to finding the cash is the getaway car which the criminals used, this is now a sideshow at a carnival! Tom discovers that Jarvis' ex-girlfriend Sheila (Ann Savage) is a singer at the very same carnival, well that must be a coincidence of course!

Tom gets involved in a dangerous game as various gangster thugs are also after the loot and are not choosy about who they have to kill first. Tom has some help from Bonnie (Adele Mara) though also seems sweet on Sheila...

This is an enjoyable film, though the idea that the getaway car would be sold by the police to a carnival while the loot was still missing does seem a bit strange. A complicated plot with a good twist.

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

The Chance of a Lifetime (1943)

An excellent edition in the Boston Blackie series, as he battles Nailz (probably not the former WWE wrestler).

Blackie (Chester Morris) has arranged for a number of convicts to be released into his charge so they can work on the war effort. However, if any of the convicts re-offends then everyone returns to gaol. Dooley (Erik Rolf) immediately goes missing. He retrieves the loot he had hidden from his crime, but he plans to return it to the authorities. Unfortunately, the gangster Nailz (Douglas Fowley) is after the loot for himself and frames Dooley for murder. 

With Inspector Farraday (Richard Lane) circling, hoping to finally arrest Blackie, Boston Blackie and the Runt (George E Stone) must clear Dooley, retrieve the loot and capture Nailz. Many shenanigans including a scene in a dumb waiter and a bit of cross dressing ensues...

A good film that packs a lot of storyline into a modest running time. It may be a little confusing at times, and Blackie's decisions sometimes are rather strange, but an enjoyable film.

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

The Brasher Doubloon (1947)

A tasty Marlow case and a decent slice of 1940s Noir.

Private detective Philip Marlow (George Montgomery) is employed by Mrs Murdoch (Florence Bates) to recover a valuable doubloon (which is a coin) which has found it's way into an unscrupulous dealer. Marlow isn't employed to find out who stole the coin though (as only Mrs Murdoch, her wayward son Leslie (Conrad Janis) and the somewhat erratic assistant Merle (Nancy Guild) have access to the safe so it would be a pretty simple investigation), rather he must get the coin back.

But Marlow's investigation is soon getting him involved with shady gangland characters in bad suits, and more than one stiff. Marlow gets interested in Merle but she has some unknown psychological issues, and is being blackmailed by a cameraman...

This is a highly enjoyable film with a tough(ish) and cynical Noir feel. It can be a bit corny but is great fun.

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture (1949)

The fourteenth and final film in the Colombia Boston Blackie series, and another fun tale.


Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) is an obvious murder suspect after the proprietor of a laundry is found dead just after Blackie was seen leaving the premises. However, as Blackie begins to investigate the crime (well officially Inspector Farraday (Richard Lane) is investigating the crime but of course Blackie is the one who does it really!) he begins to uncover an incredibly complicated conspiracy involving smuggled diamonds, fake tours of Chinatown and a movie theatre...

So, this is a fine film with a complicated fast moving plot which packs a lot into an hour long run time. It maybe tries to pack in a little too much perhaps. The fake tour of Chinatown with it's staged "Oriental intrigues" is hilarious. 

Monday, September 11, 2023

Detective Kitty O'Day (1944)

A bright and breezy crime drama, played for laughs with some fine charismatic characters.

Kitty (Jean Parker) works for a business man who is making a sudden trip to Boston, which means she must miss her date with Johnny (Peter Cookson). However, when she goes to her boss' house she finds him dead! 

His wife Mrs Wentworth (Veda Ann Borg) is a suspect of Kitty, who is off in amateur detective mode immediately, as she prefers to spend time with her fancy man. Inspector Clancy (Tim Ryan) suspects Kitty and Johnny as they always seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Plus they always seem to be around when another dead body is discovered...

This is a great film, made by Jean Parker's energetic and feisty character and her battle of wits with the police. Her acid scenes with Mrs Wentworth (who is obviously not a fan) are delicious. Fast moving and a lot of fun.

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Dr. Morelle (1949)

If you can get past the rather condescending lead then this is a good crime mystery.

The niece of Kimber (Phillip Leaver), a wheel chair bound and irritable old man who lives in a country mansion, is sole heir to a fortune. However, Cynthia (Jean Lodge) is more interested in her beau Peter (Peter Lorimer), of whom Kimber disapproves. Cynthia vanishes without a trace, leaving Kimber the beneficiary. Cynthia's school friend Miss Frayle (Julia Lang), who works for the detective Dr Morelle (Valentine Dyall), decides to go looking for Cynthia herself and takes up a job at Kimber's house. She discovers some mysterious and potentially deadly goings on and calls in Dr Morelle...

This isn't that bad a film though can drag a bit at times. Dr Morelle treats Miss Frayle rather terribly which makes it hard to warm to his character. The twists at the end are good, but getting there can take some work. Dr Morelle was a long running character in BBC radio dramas though only made it to the silver screen this one time.

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Boston Blackie's Rendezvous (1945)

Boston Blackie films are usually played fairly light though this one, with it's bodycount, has a bit of a darker tone.

Blackie (Chester Morris) is enlisted to help a friend whose nephew Jimmy (Steve Cochrane) has escaped from the asylum. Soon Blackie is face to face with Jimmy and discovers that Jimmy is obsessed with a young woman, and is also homicidally dangerous! 

Jimmy kills a friend of the woman he is obsessed with, naturally Blackie's nemesis Farraday (Richard Lane) thinks Blackie has killed the woman. Blackie must try and save Sally (Nina Foch) who is now a prisoner of Jimmy and keep out of Farraday's clutches...

With two women killed and another in deadly peril, the usual Blackie and Runt (George E Stone) antics can sometimes jar a bit, especially when they go blackface! This is an enjoyable, if complicated, crime romp. The character of Jimmy brings plenty of menace.

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Candles at Nine (1944)

A sometimes silly but interesting crime drama.


An old rich man (Eliot Makeham), who in the best traditions of the movies is mean and spiteful, is about to announce who is the sole beneficiary in his will to his assembled family and staff. However, he dies in mysterious circumstances before he can tell them. When his will be revealed, everyone is shocked to find young actress Dorothea Capper (Jessie Matthews) is not only his niece but also gets everything!

This enrages the old man's maid (Beatrix Lehmann) who wants the money for herself. She first tries to intimidate Dorothea out of claiming her inheritance then, when that fails, plans to kill her. Luckily Dorothea has an ex-detective (John Stewart) on hand to help and advise her...

A fun little film that doesn't take itself seriously, indeed at times it resembles a bit of a send-up of the mystery house genre. The light antics can be taken a little too far and the film does include a song and dance routine (which is mercifully brief). A decent and well flowing film if sometimes a bit annoying. Look-out for Patricia Hayes in one of her earliest roles.

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Mystery Broadcast (1943)

An enjoyable amateur detective romp.

Jan (Ruth Terry) has a radio show where she dramatises unsolved crimes, unfortunately the ratings are on the downward trend so she decided to try and solve one of these unsolved crimes! The crime she sets out to solve is a murder, this seems to rattle some feathers including people working on her radio show. When these people start winding up dead she knows she is onto something for sure!

She is helped by rival radio presenter Michael (Frank Albertson) and her long suffering effects producer Smitty (Mary Treen). Along the way they encounter a number of suspicious characters and dangerous situations...

This is a great little crime drama though not that original. It is a perky little adventure that flows smoothly from situation to situation driven by the great performances of Terry and Treen. The resolution is a little sudden and relies on the old trick of the culprit unmasking himself. The workings of live radio are well portrayed and always interesting.

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

After Midnight with Boston Blackie (1943)

Boston Blackie gets involved with the hunt for missing diamonds.


Ed Barnaby (Walter Baldwin) leaves prison after the theft of diamonds which were never recovered. He knows the mob will be after him and the loot so sends his daughter Betty (Ann Savage) to enlist the help of his old pal Boston Blackie (Chester Morris). Herschel (Cy Kendall) and his thugs end up killing Ed and then kidnapping Betty in order to force Blackie to give them the diamonds. Hapless Police Inspector Farraday (Richard Lane) as, as always, a few steps behind.

This is another fast moving, rich yet straight forwardly plotted, crime romp with plenty of good humour including a side-plot of The Runt (George E Stone) trying to get married. A highly enjoyable film.

Monday, July 31, 2023

Invisible Ghost (1941)

A wonderfully creepy crime horror drama.

Kessler (Bela Lugosi) is the local big wig, living in his apparently cursed house even after his wife went missing. However, Mrs Kessler (Betty Compson) is still alive and in the basement! When she gets out and Kessler sees her, he is thrown in a homicidal trance. He kills a maid, his daughter's (Polly Ann Young) boyfriend Ralph (John McGuire) is accused and eventually convicted and executed for the crime. 

Now Ralph's twin brother (always handy in movie land) turns up. Kessler is thrown into a trance again and more murders take place...

This is an enjoyable film though without Lugosi it probably would have been harder work. The film has plenty of suspense and has some good visuals and interesting camera angles. 

Monday, July 24, 2023

Alias Boston Blackie (1942)

A Christmas themed Boston Blackie movie.


Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) and friends head up to prison on Christmas Eve to perform a show for the convicts. However, Joe (Larry Parks) takes advantage of them being there to escape prison dressed as a clown. Joe claims he was set-up and wants to find the men who framed him. This drags his sister (Adele Mara) and Blackie into the trouble and hunted by the police. Blackie has to find Joe and try and prove his innocence, without getting collared by Farraday (Richard Lane) himself...

One of the best in the Boston Blackie series, a fast paced crime drama romp with plenty of shenanigans in a hotel. A good and enjoyable film. Apart from the trees and some decorations it isn't very festive though.

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Quiet Please: Murder (1942)

An enjoyable crime caper involving murder and valuable books.


Jim Fleg (George Sanders) steals a valuable book from the library after killing the guard. He has copies of the book made and sells these via his accomplice Myra (Gail Patrick). Private detective Hal (Richard Denning) is investigating the case, he encounters Myra who falls in love with him but she still leads him into Fleg's trap at the library! 

This film has an interesting plot involving stolen valuable books, naturally as its war time the valuables are wanted by the Nazis to help them after they lose the war and need to flee! The relationship between Hal and Myra (and indeed Fleg and Myra too) is a roller coaster with Noir undertones. The war time setting adds interest to the film, including the plot device of an air raid black out. A good film.