IMDb > Meet Boston Blackie (1941)

Meet Boston Blackie (1941) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   184 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 18% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Robert Florey
Writers:
Jack Boyle (character)
Jay Dratler (story)
Contact:
View company contact information for Meet Boston Blackie on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
20 February 1941 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Drama more
Tagline:
1941'S HEADLINE MENACE! (original print media ad - all caps)
Plot:
When a murder occurs on an ocean liner docked in New York, the trail leads to Coney Island and a spy ring. | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
NewsDesk:
Ingrid Pitt Pays Tribute To Boston Blackie
 (From CinemaRetro. 30 September 2009, 7:13 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Fun beginning to the series more (12 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)
Chester Morris ... Boston Blackie
Rochelle Hudson ... Cecelia Bradley
Richard Lane ... Inspector Faraday
Charles Wagenheim ... The Runt
Constance Worth ... Marilyn Howard
Jack O'Malley ... Monk
George Magrill ... Georgie
Michael Rand ... Mechanical Man
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harry Anderson ... Dart Game Barker (uncredited)
Sam Bernard ... Telescope Man (uncredited)
James Blaine ... Police Captain (uncredited)
Harry Bowen ... Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Stanley Brown ... Max - Police Lab Technician (uncredited)
Eddie Fetherston ... Second Freak Show Barker (uncredited)
Budd Fine ... Police Officer (uncredited)
Richard Fiske ... Police Officer (uncredited)
Byron Foulger ... Blind Man (uncredited)
Jack Gardner ... Tunnel of Horror Barker (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
John Harmon ... Weight Guesser (uncredited)
Ethan Laidlaw ... Brakeman (uncredited)
William Lally ... Police Officer McCarthy (uncredited)
Eddie Laughton ... First Freak Show Barker (uncredited)
Philo McCullough ... Tunnel of Horror Attendant (uncredited)
George McKay ... Baseball Barker (uncredited)
Edward Mundy ... Fire Eater (uncredited)
Nestor Paiva ... Martin Vestrick (uncredited)
Ralph Peters ... Second Cabby (uncredited)
Walter Sande ... Officer at Amusement Park (uncredited)
Schlitze ... Princess Betsy - Bird Woman (uncredited)
Lee Shumway ... Immigration Officer (uncredited)
Bruce Sidney ... Customs Officer (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan ... First Cabby (uncredited)
John Tyrrell ... Freak Show Doorman (uncredited)
Ed Wolff ... Giant (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Robert Florey 
 
Writing credits
Jack Boyle (character)

Jay Dratler (story and screenplay)

Produced by
Irving Briskin .... executive producer (uncredited)
Ralph Cohn .... producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
Sidney Cutner (uncredited)
 
Cinematography by
Franz Planer  (as Franz F. Planer)
 
Film Editing by
James Sweeney 
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Milton Carter .... assistant director (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
George Cooper .... sound engineer (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Sidney Cutner .... composer: background cues
Raphael Penso .... composer: background cues
Gerard Carbonara .... composer: stock music (uncredited)
Howard Jackson .... composer: stock music (uncredited)
Louis Silvers .... composer: stock music (uncredited)
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
60 min (copyright length) (TCM print)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Certification:
USA:Approved (PCA #7045) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
This film marked the screen debut of "Boston Blackie," and was sufficiently popular to spawn 13 more hour-long "Blackie" pictures. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Blackie uses a round-back chair to lock Cecelia in her wall bed. When the police arrive and free her, they remove a different square-back arm chair. more
Quotes:
Cecelia Bradley: Why do those men want to kill you?
Horatio 'Boston Blackie' Black: I don't think they like me.
more
Movie Connections:
Follows Boston Blackie's Little Pal (1918) more
Soundtrack:
Santa Lucia more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
12 out of 13 people found the following comment useful.
Fun beginning to the series, 27 January 2007
7/10
Author: blanche-2 from United States

Chester Morris is Boston Blackie, and his first appearance was aptly titled "Meet Boston Blackie" in 1941. There were 14 films in all produced by Columbia. In this first film, Blackie finds a corpse, Martin Vestrick, in his stateroom when the steamer he traveled back to the states on docks. Blackie and Runt (Charles Wagenheim) remember seeing the victim with a woman (Constance Worth) on the ship. They follow her to Coney Island where, at a exhibit of freaks, spies are meeting. Blackie attempts to talk with the woman on the Tunnel of Horrors ride, but she's murdered - and the killers almost get Blackie. He hijacks a car being driven by Cecilia Bradley (Rochelle Hudson) to get away. Meanwhile, Inspector Faraday now wants Blackie in connection with two murders, and Blackie is after spies.

These are fast-moving films with some very witty dialogue. Morris is an expert at smooth comic delivery and cool under pressure, as well as Blackie's magic tricks, such as getting out of handcuffs. Hudson is very exotic looking and gives good support. Heartily recommended to put a smile on your face.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (12 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Meet Boston Blackie (1941)

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Fugitive Confessions of Boston Blackie My Favorite Blonde On the Town Strangers on a Train
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits News articles
IMDb Crime section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.