Why a remake?
"Boston Blackie and the Law" is a remake of "Alias Boston Blackie" with a gender switch - a woman female prisoner escapes during a magic show instead of a male. It seems a little silly to have remade it.
Blackie is in good form first doing his own magic show at the female penitentiary and later disguising himself as a magician whose ex-wife is out to get the money they apparently both stole, for which she took the rap, and to kill him. The Grunt and Matthews, the dumbo-o police investigator, as well as Inspector Farraday are all around. Heavy emphasis is on stupid Matthews as Blackie fools him with a disappearing act.
I never understand Blackie's disguises - to me, it always looks like Blackie, and I'm amazed no one figures it out. Nevertheless, Chester Morris makes even these repeat stories palatable as does George E. Stone as The Grunt.
It's just a little disappointing - the theme is always the same - Blackie in trouble with the law for something he didn't do so now he has to find the real villain - so why retread an old story is beyond me. And how come no one recognized it?
Blackie is in good form first doing his own magic show at the female penitentiary and later disguising himself as a magician whose ex-wife is out to get the money they apparently both stole, for which she took the rap, and to kill him. The Grunt and Matthews, the dumbo-o police investigator, as well as Inspector Farraday are all around. Heavy emphasis is on stupid Matthews as Blackie fools him with a disappearing act.
I never understand Blackie's disguises - to me, it always looks like Blackie, and I'm amazed no one figures it out. Nevertheless, Chester Morris makes even these repeat stories palatable as does George E. Stone as The Grunt.
It's just a little disappointing - the theme is always the same - Blackie in trouble with the law for something he didn't do so now he has to find the real villain - so why retread an old story is beyond me. And how come no one recognized it?
- blanche-2
- Dec 4, 2007