Alias Boston Blackie, a 1942 B-movie romp that was just one thoroughly implausible yet mildly enjoyable entry in a long-running franchise that saw Chester Morris star as the titular crook-turned-crimefighter who finds himself in all sorts of scrapes. In this festive-themed adventure from director Lew Landers, Blackie is involved in coordinating a Christmas carnival stage show for the cons at the local prison that an inmate named Joe (Larry Parks, The Jolson Story) uses as the perfect cover to escape. Joe somehow manages to mug the clown, quickly dress up in his costume, complete the clown’s routine and then escape from prison completely undetected. It’s that kind of film where even the clown’s closest buddies don’t notice he’s been replaced, so we just go with it. Given his sketchy past, Blackie is under suspicion and must solve the case, fast.
It’s a jolly romp, squeezing in murder, car chases, pranks and lots of mistaken identity. This is set in a world where charming rogue Blackie can beat up a bunch of cops, escape arrest and aid an escaped convict, yet still be best pals and joke around with the police at the end. Still, it’s entertaining nonsense and it’s all nice and Christmassy. Blackie is introduced decorating his tree while his trusty sidekick Runt (George E. Stone) moans about Christmas trees being “unlucky” - it’s all very prophetic. Santa also makes an albeit brief appearance during a surprisingly bonkers-for-the-time car chase.
Morris is enjoyable as supercool Blackie, effortlessly endearing and a cool addition to the pantheon of Hollywood tough guy detectives who find themselves in danger but are almost always the smartest guy in the room. This is a pleasant enough slice of implausible mindless mayhem that I’m quite sure I’ll have forgotten about in a week but enjoy just fine for today.
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