The Case of the Black Parrot (1941)

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Blistering performances.

Lacklustre whodunit from Warners. Plot concerns a valuable antique cabinet being brought back from France to US. The furniture item appears a mysterious piece of work that may or may not be a copy of the real thing. Reporter Moore (Lundigan) and ditzy photographer Tripod (Foy Jr.) get involved with the cabinet and an exotic someone calling himself The Black Parrot. Soon a series of mysterious deaths occur surrounding the furniture piece. Is the Parrot responsible and just who is he really.It's a typical amateur sleuth programmer from that period. Unfortunately, the results are dimmer than most. Only the unknown method of killing registers as imaginative. Otherwise, the acting, visuals, and script are pedestrian, at best. Moreover, I don't recall a single scene not taking place on a set. It's a real cheapo for the otherwise respectable Warner Bros. I suspect the project was mainly to showcase pretty boy Lundigan-- who parades through his part-- in hopes of advancing his career. If so, I doubt that it worked for him any better than it does for the audience.

A lot of mystery movies came out in the 30's and early 40's which were not in the film noir tradition that flourished in the later 40's and beyond. This 1941 movie may be among the last in the who-dun-it style which featured an attractive couple, an amateur sleuth, sawdust headed cops, comic relief by an assistant to the main character, and a genuine puzzle. Here, the puzzle is also "how-dun-it." There is always an assortment of likely suspects, and always a least likely villain. Well, the elements are all here, and the lead actors are pleasant and nice to look at although neither of them became "A" list stars. Very much a time filler to watch, better than some, but not as good as STAR OF MIDNIGHT, say, or some of the Charlie Chan films of the same era. There are always loose ends in these movies, and I highlight just two of them below in a SPOILER QUERY.SPOILER QUERY: So how did the two victims of the Parrot actually find the secret murder method and how did they restore things before dying when death was instantaneous? Also, did the villain actually get away with the swag at the end when captured and taken out the door by the cops? No one mentions the real motive for the murders as the villain is captured, apparently holding on to the booty.

I struck it rich on this one, figuring it out only minutes into the film, still unsure of my accuracy to the film's revelation, yet not proved wrong, which I usually am in these types of mysteries. But I still had a good time in spite of my certainty, becoming engrossed in the tale of a serial jewel robber, which leads to murder, a suspicious butler (with Bela Lugosi like eyes) and a hoity toity countess, as well as a dresser with several hidden compartments, one of which has a deadly surprise.The film doesn't pretend to be anything more than a standard programmer mystery, totally unpretentious in its presentation, and filled with delightfully witty dialog and the pleasure of watching a reporter (William Lundigan) solving the mystery rather than the cops. Eddie Foy Jr. ("The Pajama Game", "Bells are Ringing", narrator of the Bob Hope starred story of his famous father's life) takes over the part usually essayed by Allen Jenkins, and Maris Wrixon proves herself to be an acceptable heroine. Plenty of red herrings abound to keep you guessing if you might be wrong too, but you may find yourself figuring it out early in the game.

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.