Trapped by Boston Blackie (1948)

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

***SPOILERS*** Dull and over-plotted Boston Blackie, Chester Morris, movie with Blackie surviving a car accident that his good friend private eye Joe Kenyon was killed in. Blackie bruised but back on his feet and in action gets to work for Joe's detective agency that his widowed wife Helen, Mary Currier, is now running. Sure enough on his first case Blackie together with his sidekick "The Runt", George E.Stone, get involved in a heisting or switching of an expensive pearl necklace worth $50,000.00 as ballet master Igor Borlo, Ed Norris, and his partner Sandra Dorley, Fay Baker,were doing their act right in front of the shocked audience! And what's even worse, for Blackie & "The Runt", it's Boston Blackie whom the necklace is later found on by Inspector Farraday, Richard Lang, and his bumbling partner Sgt. Matthew,Frank Sully.Now on the run ,like he's in all of his movies, from the law Blackie and "The Runt" are out to prove their innocence in finding who in fact stole or pearl necklace that was switched with a fake and worthless one. Going under cover Blackie uses, together with "The Runt", his many disguises to get to the bottom of this very troubling case. A case that originated with what turned out to be the murder of his friend Joe Kenyon who was on to it, the planned switching of the two necklaces, and was killed just as he was about to prevent it from happening!***SPOILERS***Chester Morris was very unconvincing in the action scenes in the movie looking as if he's so out of shape and rollie polly, like a bowling pin, that he'd be having trouble just bending down to tie his shoes! Much less have him duke it out with the bad guys and put them away with one, the major villain, who looked to be in a lot better shape and was at least a half foot taller then him. In the disguise department Blackie and "The Runt" feared much better in that in some of their disguises, with "The Runt" as an elderly lady, they were totally unorganizable. Which if they stuck to them it would have made those of us watching completely forget who they were and thus save them any embarrassment in being in the movie.

Blackie and the Runt fill in as party security as a favor to the widow of their recently killed friend. Not surprisingly, a valuable necklace is stolen; it's not the first time that helping a friend has gotten them into trouble. Also not surprisingly, Inspector Farraday is on the case—and pins the job on Blackie the moment he sees through the Runt's swami disguise. (They were doing the job undercover and in costume.)From there on, Trapped by Boston Blackie is unpredictable if not surprising—the plot involves a ballet instructor, his student, a secretary, the necklace's owner, and said owner's niece and husband. Lots of characters to keep straight! Indeed, it takes Blackie (with Farraday in pursuit, naturally) the length of the picture to sort them all out, restore order along with the necklace, and once again prove his own innocence to the inspector.Sidekicks Runt and Sergeant Matthews are along as always; neither is quite so dumb as usual in this entry, although Farraday is driven to deliver his trademark exasperated shout ("Matthews!") more than once.Plenty of disguises for Blackie and the Runt in this one—their turn as an elderly couple has to be one of their best ever, with the Runt quite hilariously convincing as "Mother." (Blackie even teases "her" about walking past the police wearing a borrowed wrap: "You think the boys are gonna notice an old hag like you? Now get your bonnet." To which the Runt snaps, "Well, I like that!" in perfect insulted-mature-lady style.) The plot here is thicker than some films in the Boston Blackie series; the humor is (mostly) less physical and lower key. –That said, however, it's still a Blackie picture: light and enjoyable, a fast-moving 67 minutes that will relax and amuse more than confuse or confound. Blackie fans will want to catch it at least once.

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.