Highly Overrated But Still Good

Expected more

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

The disguises for Chester Morris and George E. Stone are getting a workout on this late entry, certainly past its prime. With film noir having caught on, the old form of detective story just didn't hold up as well, especially with the typical corny humor of Stone and dumb police sidekick Frank Sully. This one deals with the theft of pearls at a swell society party and Morris's determination to keep police lieutenant Richard Lane off his case. Morris and Stone strive for laughs in drag, and when Morris picks up a woman's hat and proclaims "Gay!", it means something else today than probably what the writer intended. June Vincent, Patricia Barry and Fay Baker give the feminine touch, and for me, it was the first chance to see future soap queen Barry in an early film role. The tiresome efforts, though, to keep the series alive are obvious, and a few traits of film noir are prevalent, if not obvious. Morris maintains the character's fun, wisecracking nature, but the series seems stagnant, and no crime doctor can cure that.

This film starts off at a costume party where Boston Blackie,(Chester Morris) and his sidekick Runt, (George Slone) are attending in order to protect a very expensive necklace on one of their clients. This pearl necklace is stolen and Police Inspector Faraday, (Richard Lane) suspects Boston Blackie of stealing these pearls. There is the usual run around with all kinds of suspicious characters who claim to be innocent and still Inspector Faraday feels that Boston Blackie is responsible for this crime. Doris Bradley, (June Vincent) plays the role as a very pretty blonde who puts charm to her supporting role. This is one of the better Boston Blackie films.

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.

Blackie and his sidekick, The Runt, are up to their usual tricks again, this time assuming various disguises in TRAPPED BY BOSTON BLACKIE, one of the better entries in the series. GEORGE E. STONE as The Runt has less whining and less forced comic moments than usual and even CHESTER MORRIS is less of a wise guy although he still has some overly cute moments with wisecracks.The story concerns stolen pearls and opens at a costume party where Blackie and The Runt are assigned by a wealthy woman to keep watch over her pearls. From there on, it becomes a straightforward Blackie adventure peppered with a musical segment and the usual run-ins with the police and Inspector Farraday (RICHARD LANE) and his bumbling assistant. Farraday, too, has been toned down for this entry and is less sarcastic than usual. JUNE VINCENT provides some eye candy as a blonde beauty.There are no real surprises but the ending wraps things up neatly with the usual explanations offered by Farraday.Summing up: Better than usual Blackie.