The Case of the Black Parrot

Reporter William Lundigan and his sidekick photographer Eddie Foy,Jr. meet up with Maris Wrixson and her uncle on an ocean liner away from war torn Europe.. She's traveling with the uncle and an antique cabinet. After the cabinet is master forger the Black Parrot. Known by said name for his skill at copying stuff.

After the uncle's murder and several false leads the reporters actually capture the notorious crook. I have to say I had it figured out and I think you will too.

Routine mystery from the Warner Brothers B unit.

Fast-paced mystery programmer that times in at exactly one hour, this one doesn't give you any time to grow bored, as a piece of forged Chinese furniture turns out to be real. Eddie Foy Jr. is great as the fast-talking sidekick and the plot veers in unexpected direction. William Lundigan is earnest and stiff as always, but even the butler speaks fast in this one.

A stylish programmer. William Lundigan is always appealing and Maris Wrixon is generally fun to have around, if only for her name (though here she is quite good.)

The plot is elaborate and somewhat preposterous. And I guessed the mystery within the first few moments. But it's chic and nicely turned out for a cheapie.

...not great. The premise of a stolen antique is somewhat different for this low budget war-era mystery. Could have been better, but the leading man is too stiff and the murders come too late despite the fast pace. Worth it only to see some ingenious means of death by furniture and to learn why the name of the criminal is the Black Parrot.

The Black Parrot is a notorious forger who is rumored to have stolen the Mona Lisa. Paul Vantine has purchased a cabinet despite suspecting it as a Black Parrot fake. He is certain that even a forgery would climb in value due to the exemplary work. Paul and his niece Sandy Vantine show the cabinet to reporter Jim Moore, and his buddy Tripod Daniels. Upon further inspection, Paul realizes that it is actually the real deal worth $250k.

I've never heard of this movie, or the play, or the novel, or the author. That's the vast majority of literary works in the history of humanity. Not everyone or everything become the popular zeitgeist. Nothing is really standing out in this movie. Jim Moore isn't that interesting. None of the actors are really breaking through. They seem like fine professionals. It's a run-of-the-mill murder mystery in a mansion. It's all rather borderline nothingness.