Trapped By Boston Blackie (1948)

Mary Currier's husband has died in an auto accident. He was a private detective, and his wife (Mary Currier) carries on for him with the help of Blackie (Chester Morris) and the Runt (George Stone). The agency is supposed to provide guard services for a costume party. They dress up in Hindu costumes and set out. The evening features a ballet dance in which a valuable pearl necklace comes off the hostess (Sarah Shelby) during the dance. Later, she notices that the pearls she is wearing are imitations. She refuses to let Blackie take charge. The police arrive in the person of Inspector Farraday (Richard Lane). Lane has everyone searched. He spots Blackie and the Runt and the chase is on. Incidentally, the continuous conflict and grudging respect between Morris and Lane works very well, and was continued through a long series of these movies.

Blackie and the Runt dress up and go to the apartment to see June Vincent, Shelby's niece. Farraday's dumb assistant (Frank Sully) is in charge of security. Lane holds Currier on suspicion. It appears her husband had been murdered. When Vincent gets to the apartment, Blackie and the Runt are waiting for her. Before they can talk, Patricia Barry comes in. She was in love with the dancing instructor, Edward Norris. Blackie finds the jewelry in the fur wrap of Barry, which she borrowed. Blackie tells Vincent that he has to catch the real thief, because otherwise Farraday will pin it on him. Barry calls Norris and tells him to leave town or she will tell the police what she knows. Blackie calls Fay Baker, Norris' accomplice and tells her he has the pearls, but she does not believe him. Runt has one of the agency's disguises - a delivery man - and in the receipt book that goes with it he finds the combination to the safe. The next morning Blackie calls on Norris to get dancing lessons.

Barry brings Lane to the apartment of Vincent and reveals that she gave the necklace to Blackie. In the meantime, Blackie is posing as an insurance investigator negotiating for the delivery of the pearls. Blackie tells him the pearls will cost him $50,000. Blackie calls Lane and tells him where to meet him to get the pearls. But Baker shows up with a gun and blasts away at them. Blackie's main goal now is to get the pearls to clear Currier's name. When he gets to the agency office, he finds Baker and William Forrest, Shelby's husband. Forrest punches Blackie and calls Lane. Forrest turns a gun on all of them and is shot as he makes his getaway.




Lane


Barry