O Caso do Diamante Azul

The Chester Morris Boston Blackie films are always good for a laugh, and although this one is a little shorter than usual it sure ate up the 58 minutes (UK TV running time). Time was never wasted with these potboilers and the action and repartee was necessarily relentless, so making a drink might be fatal - for someone!

Blackie is accused by the police of stealing a diamond simply to get him to show up and find the real robbers for them... He seems to nose out the real culprit and his method in seconds, but as might be expected complications arise when the baddies pulling the strings don't like it. He promised to protect Dorothy Malone's brother from harm, 30 seconds later was stepping over his corpse - what poor old Dot thought of Blackie after that we'll never know. I think this was her first film, and to look at she's the real gem in this picture!

Some wonderful moments - Blackie and Runt tied upside down to a cupboard bed; some brain-dead moments - the 2 crooks hiding a yard away in plain view from 4 or 5 cops in Jumbo Madigan's small shop as tailors dummy's. They weren't Hope and Crosby, they'd just shot Jumbo and were already murderers on the lam!

This was no 7 in the 14 film series, all well worth watching - more or less!

The police, being largely incompetent in the Boston Blackie series thus far, finally admit they suck and ask Blackie for help retrieving the stolen Blue Star of the Nile diamond. I'd like to give Inspector Farraday some credit for character growth for coming up with the plan, seeing as how up until this point he believed Blackie was capable of any and every type of crime. But unfortunately this change was short-lived and by the next picture Blackie was back to being Farraday's eternal suspect again.

Another fun Boston Blackie movie with typically likable turns from Chester Morris as Blackie, Richard Lane as Farraday, and George E. Stone as Blackie's sidekick, Runt. Three recurring characters in the series -- Arthur Manleder, Jumbo Madigan, and Sgt. Matthews -- are played by new actors in this one. I prefer the originals in these parts as these new guys are kind of bland and forgettable. Very early screen role for Dorothy Malone. This is also the directorial debut of future famed western director Budd Boetticher.

One Mysterious Night (1944)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Seventh film in Columbia's Boston Blackie series features the directorial debut of Budd Boetticher and features future Oscar winner Dorothy Malone is a small role. In the film, thieves steal a diamond right in front of the police so Inspector Farraday (Richard Lane) calls in Blackie (Chester Morris) for help. With Boetticher directing I was really expecting something special but in all honesty his direction is probably the weakest I've seen in the series. The film runs 61-minutes so there's never a slow moment and as usual, Morris and Lane do a great job together. The story itself is pretty good but again, the director doesn't do anything special with it. Janis Carter is good in her supporting role as well.

Enjoyed this Boston Blackie film played by Chester Morris who was called into the case by the Chief Inspector of Police to investigate the stealing of a very important diamond that was stolen. Janis Carter,(Dorothy Anderson) plays a reporter who manages to appear everywhere that Boston Blackie goes and quickly runs off and makes her report to her newspaper. George E. Stone, (The Runt) plays the role as the sidekick to Boston Blackie and gives a great supporting role to his character. Janis Carter appeared in many films during the 40's and 50's and played the role of a very sexy blonde, even in Western films. If you like Chester Morris in this series of films he made, you will definitely enjoy this one.

Boston Blackie and the Runt finally get recognition of a sort in One Mysterious Night. This time when a jewel robbery is perpetrated instead of immediately suspecting them, Richard Lane as Inspector Farraday seeks their assistance in apprehending the real crooks. Chester Morris and George E. Stone even get badges.

Of course they give Lane a few anxious moments as he has second thoughts that they might really have been the thieves who stole the Star of the Nile diamond from an exhibition for war relief. And as usual the cops are more of a hindrance than help in Blackie's mission.

Sultry and sexy Janis Carter plays a sob sister reporter looking to become Lois Lane and who has more on the ball than the cops. Morris gives her more than a passing glance.

Future Oscar winner Dorothy Malone is in this as well as the sister of the guy who was the inside man in the robbery. Her brother is killed by his accomplices making this a homicide as well as a robbery.

Breezy entry in the Boston Blackie series, I think viewers will like it.