Aerial Gunner 1943  N/R, 78 min.
Genre: Action
Director: William H. Pine
Cast: Richard Arlen, Chester Morris, Lita Ward, Jimmy Lydon, Keith Richards, Dick Purcell, Robert Mitchum, William "Billy" Benedict, Olive Blakeney, Edward Earle
Real-life action scenes help make this standard World War II propaganda fare worth watching. Rival buddies (Richard Arlen and Chester Morris) go through basic training together, as well as wooing the same woman (Lita Ward). Look for Robert Mitchum in a bit part.
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After Midnight with Boston Blackie 1943  N/R, 64 min.
Genre: Mystery / Drama
Director: Lew Landers
Cast: Chester Morris, George E. Stone, Richard Lane, Ann Savage, Lloyd Corrigan, Cy Kendall, George McKay, Al Hill, Walter Sande, Jan Buckingham, Walter Baldwin, Dick Elliott, Don Barclay, John Harmon, Heinie Conklin
In this episode of the "Boston Blackie" series, reformed thief Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) helps his former lover Betty Barnaby (Ann Savage) retrieve a sack of diamonds that her father had hidden after a robbery. Betty wants her father, Diamond Ed Barnaby (Walter Baldwin), to change his ways, but he is killed, and now Blackie is arrested for the crime. Of course, Blackie escapes, saves Betty who is kidnapped by those who murdered her father, stops the gang, and returns the jewels to the owners.
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Alias Boston Blackie 1942 N/R, 67 min.
Genre: Mystery / Drama
Director: Lew Landers
Cast: Chester Morris, Adele Mara, Richard Lane, George E. Stone, Lloyd Corrigan, Walter Sande, Larry Parks, George McKay, Lloyd Bridges, Cy Kendall, Mike Donovan, Paul Fix, Ben Taggart, Edmund Cobb
In this "Boston Blackie" episode, reformed thief Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) and his sidekick The Runt (George E. Stone), along with Inspector Farraday (Richard Lane), attend a magic show at a prison during which one of the convicts (Larry Parks) escapes. Blackie pursues–and he not only gets his man but clears another man's name in the process.
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Alibi 1929 N/R, 90 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Roland West
Cast: Chester Morris, Harry Stubbs, Mae Busch, Eleanore Griffith, Irma Harrison, Regis Toomey, Al Hill, Purnell Pratt, Pat O'Malley, DeWitt Jennings
This early talkie (which was also released as a silent film) was a recipient of Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Actor (Chester Morris, who plays the gangster Chick Williams). A warehouse robbery goes bad, results in a death, and Chick must come up with an alibi because he is the prime suspect. A tough story.
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The Bat Whispers 1930 N/R, 82 min.
Genre: Mystery
Director: Roland West
Cast: Chester Morris, Chance Ward, Una Merkel, Richard Tucker, Wilson Benge, Maude Eburne, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Spencer Charters, William Bakewell, DeWitt Jennings, Sidney D'Albrook
Director Roland West's remake of his 1926 "The Bat" again uses interesting camera shots and a dark mood to set the tone. This time around, the masked super-criminal sets his sights on a country mansion filled with assorted characters–and the spoils from a robbery.
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The Big House 1930  N/R, 84 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: George W. Hill
Cast: Chester Morris, Wallace Beery, Lewis Stone, Robert Montgomery, Leila Hyams, George F. Marion, J.C. Nugent, Karl Dane, DeWitt Jennings, Claire McDowell
Based on a violent prison break in 1929, this film set the standard for prison movies that followed. Kent (a young Robert Montgomery) is sent to prison for killing pedestrians while driving drunk. There he is amidst hardened criminals in a tough, overcrowded environment. Mean criminal Butch (Wallace Beery) plans the breakout in this violent (for that time) movie. The film won Academy Awards for Best Sound and Writing; Beery was nominated for Best Actor and the film was nominated for Best Picture.
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Blind Alley 1939 N/R, 71 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Charles Vidor
Cast: Chester Morris, Ralph Bellamy, Ann Dvorak, Joan Perry, Melville Cooper, Rosa Stradner, John Eldredge, Marc Lawrence, Ann Doran, Scotty Beckett
This is a psychological drama about a psychiatrist (Ralph Bellamy) outwitting an escaped convict who is holding him prisoner. This film was remade in 1948 as "The Dark Past."
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Boston Blackie and the Law 1946 N/R, 69 min.
Genre: Mystery / Drama
Director: D. Ross Lederman
Cast: Chester Morris, Trudy Marshall, Constance Dowling, Richard Lane, George E. Stone, Frank Sully, Warren Ashe, Selmer Jackson, Ted Hecht, Eddie Dunn, Eddie Fetherston, Brian O'Hara, Pat O'Malley, Edward Keane
In this remake of "Alias Boston Blackie" (1942), Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) is involved in a magic act at a women's prison where inmate Dinah Moran (Constance Dowling) uses the act to disappear. Blackie learns that Dinah's ex-husband Lampau (Warren Ashe) is a magician who has changed his name to John Jani, is performing near by, and is planning to marry his assistant Irene (Trudy Marshall). Blackie warns Lampau that Dinah has escaped, hides him, and then masquerades as Lampau. But Lampau is murdered, and Blackie is arrested for the crime. Blackie escapes from prison and uses magic to trick the murderess into admitting that she killed Lampau.
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Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion 1945 N/R, 66 min.
Genre: Mystery / Drama
Director: Arthur Dreifuss
Cast: Chester Morris, Lynn Merrick, Richard Lane, Frank Sully, Steve Cochran, George E. Stone, Lloyd Corrigan, George M. Carleton, George Meader, Douglas Wood, George Lloyd, Robert Williams, Joe Palma, Dan Stowell, Jessie Arnold
In this "Boston Blackie" entry, Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) tries to help his friend Arthur Manleder (Lloyd Corrigan) auction off what he thinks is a Charles Dickens first edition book. The book, however, turns out to be a fake, and murder and mayhem ensue. But, of course, Blackie steps in, solves the crime, and saves the day.
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Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood 1942 N/R, 68 min.
Genre: Mystery / Drama
Director: Michael Gordon
Cast: Chester Morris, George E. Stone, Richard Lane, Forrest Tucker, William Wright, Constance Worth, Lloyd Corrigan, John Tyrrell, Walter Sande, Shirley Patterson, Ralph Dunn, Charles Sullivan, Jessie Arnold, Cyril Ring, Lloyd Bridges
In this "Boston Blackie" episode, Blackie (Chester Morris) and his sidekick The Runt (George E. Stone) are about to board a train when Blackie gets a call from his friend Arthur Manleder (Lloyd Corrigan) asking him to retrieve $60,000 from his apartment and then fly to California and give it to him. Police Inspector Farraday (Richard Lane) gets wind of the request, arrives on the scene with Detective Sgt. Matthews (Walter Sande), and accuses Blackie of stealing. But, they let Blackie escape and follow him to California hoping to nail Manleder who they believe has possession of the stolen Monterey Diamond. Blackie suspects that he is being followed and uses his own unique methods to solve the case of the stolen diamond.
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Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture 1949 N/R, 59 min.
Genre: Mystery / Drama
Director: Seymour Friedman
Cast: Chester Morris, Maylia, Richard Lane, Don McGuire, Joan Woodbury, Sid Tomack, Frank Sully, Charles Arnt, Luis Van Rooten, Philip Ahn, Peter Brocco, Benson Fong, Edgar Dearing, Fred F. Sears, Pat O'Malley
This film represents the last episode in the "Boston Blackie" series. Once again, Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) and his sidekick The Runt (Sid Tomack replaces George E. Stone for this final episode.) are accused of murder. This time around, they are reported to be leaving a Chinese laundry where the proprietor has been murdered. Blackie and The Runt, as usual, escape from the police and manage to find the real murderer in Wong's Curio Shop where they also find stolen jewels hidden in tea bags.
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Boston Blackie's Rendezvous 1945 N/R, 64 min.
Genre: Mystery / Drama
Director: Arthur Dreifuss
Cast: Chester Morris, Nina Foch, Steve Cochran, Richard Lane, George E. Stone, Frank Sully, Iris Adrian, Harry Hayden, Adele Roberts, Joe Devlin, Dan Stowell, Philip Van Zandt, Marilyn Johnson, Robert Williams, John Tyrrell
In this film, which is one of the best of the "Boston Blackie" series, Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) and his sidekick The Runt (George E. Stone) track down psycho killer "Jimmy" Cook (Steve Cochran) who has escaped from an asylum. To intimidate Blackie, Jimmy kidnaps dance hall hostess Sally Brown (Nina Foch). Now Blackie and The Runt try to find Jimmy, and, of course, Inspector Farraday (Richard Lane) is hot on their trail suspecting Blackie of murder.
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The Chance of a Lifetime 1943 N/R, 66 min.
Genre: Mystery / Drama
Director: William Castle
Cast: Chester Morris, Erik Rolf, Jeanne Bates, Richard Lane, George E. Stone, Lloyd Corrigan, Walter Sande, Douglas Fowley, Cy Kendall, Trevor Bardette, Harry Semels, Arthur Hunnicutt, Pierre Watkin, Maude Eburne
In this "Boston Blackie" episode, ex-thief Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) sponsors 12 paroled prisoners in an effort to redeem them by finding jobs for them in a defense plant. But, not all of the prisoners have patriotism in mind, and they plan a robbery after which a reformed safecracker–and the only honest one of the group–Dooley Watson (Erik Rolf) becomes the prime suspect. By story's end, Blackie and the parolees have learned to work together, and Blackie is rewarded by getting a new set of convicts to work with.
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A Close Call for Boston Blackie 1946 N/R, 68 min.
Genre: Mystery / Drama / Comedy
Director: Lew Landers
Cast: Chester Morris, Lynn Merrick, Richard Lane, Frank Sully, George E. Stone, Claire Carleton, Erik Rolf, Charles(2) Lane, Mark Roberts, Emmett Vogan, Russell Hicks, Doris Houck, Ruth Warren
Once again, Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) works to clear his name. This time around, Blackie tells his sidekick The Runt (George E. Stone) to take his ex-girlfriend Gerry Peyton (Lynn Merrick) and her baby away from the crime scene where her husband has been killed while Blackie was calling Inspector Farraday (Richard Lane) for assistance. Later, Gerry tells the police that Blackie shot her husband as part of a scheme to extort money from her husband's wealthy family. Blackie and The Runt investigate and learn that Gerry is the one planning to extort the money. Now they must bring proof to Inspector Farraday who, it turns out, is only trying to teach Blackie a lesson about being careful when picking girlfriends.
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Confessions of Boston Blackie 1941 N/R, 65 min.
Genre: Mystery / Drama
Director: Edward Dmytryk
Cast: Chester Morris, Harriet Hilliard, Richard Lane, George E. Stone, Lloyd Corrigan, Joan Woodbury, Walter Sande, Ralph Theodore, Walter Soderling, William "Billy" Benedict, Mike Donovan, Jack Clifford, Eddie Laughton, Jack O'Malley, Ralph Dunn
Chester Morris returns for the second time in the role of Boston Blackie in this entertaining series about the ex-criminal who now helps solve crimes. Once again, Blackie is accused and on the run with Inspector Farraday (Richard Lane) in pursuit. This time, George E. Stone joins the cast as Blackie's sidekick, The Runt, helping Blackie prove his innocence in the murder of sculptor Allison (Walter Soderling).
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The Devil's Playground 1937 N/R, 74 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Erle C. Kenton
Cast: Richard Dix, Dolores del Rio, Chester Morris, George McKay, John Gallaudet, Pierre Watkin, Ward Bond, Francis McDonald, Ann Doran, Stanley Andrews, Don Rowan, Eddie Fetherston, Si Jenks, Garry Owen, William Worthington
After deep-sea diver Jack Dorgan (Richard Dix) discovers his wife's, Carmen (Dolores del Rio), interest has strayed to another, Robert Mason (Chester Morris), events accelerate to an underwater battle of brains and brawn. This film is a remake of "Submarine" (1928).
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The Divorcee 1930 N/R, 80 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Robert Z. Leonard
Cast: Norma Shearer, Chester Morris, Conrad Nagel, Robert Montgomery, Florence Eldridge, Helene Millard, Robert Elliott, Mary Doran, Tyler Brooke, George Irving, Zelda Sears, Judith Wood, Theodor Von Eltz
Shortly after their whirlwind courtship and marriage, Jerry (Norma Shearer) discovers that her husband Ted (Chester Morris) is having an affair with Janice (Mary Doran). Jerry's solution is to kick Ted out of her bed and sleep with Ted's best friend Don (Robert Montgomery). Now, other lovers become part of Jerry's life until she finally returns to Ted and all is forgiven. While this film was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Writing, it was Norma Shearer who walked away with the Oscar for Best Actress for 1929/30.
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Five Came Back 1939 N/R, 75 min.
Genre: Adventure
Director: John Farrow
Cast: Chester Morris, Lucille Ball, Wendy Barrie, John Carradine, Allen Jenkins, Joseph Calleia, C. Aubrey Smith, Patric Knowles, Elisabeth Risdon, Frank Faylen
This is an interesting, if somewhat dated, film concerning passengers who attempt survival in a jungle full of headhunters after their plane crashes. This was remade as "Back from Eternity."
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Frankie and Johnnie 1936  N/R, 66 min.
Genre: Drama / Musical
Director: John H. Auer, Chester Erskine
Cast: Helen Morgan, Chester Morris, Lilyan Tashman, Florence Reed, Walter Kingsford, Cora Witherspoon, William Harrigan, John Larkin
Based on the title song, this is the story of the romance and marriage of cat-house singer Frankie (Helen Morgan) and country boy Johnnie (Chester Morgan). Shortly after the marriage, Johnnie begins fooling around with Nellie Bly (Lilyan Tashman)–an affair that ends in Johnnie's murder.
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Gambler's Choice 1944 N/R, 66 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Frank McDonald
Cast: Chester Morris, Nancy Kelly, Russell Hayden, Sheldon Leonard, Lee Patrick, Lloyd Corrigan, Lyle Talbot, Tom Dugan, Maxine Lewis, Charles Arnt, Billy Nelson, Milburn Stone
Children–Mary, Mike, and Ross–were caught stealing wallets. Now, 15 years later, Mike (Russell Hayden) is a NYPD detective, Mary (Nancy Kelly) is a nightclub singer, and Ross (Chester Morris) is a gambling casino owner. Mike's job is to crack down on gambling in the city, and their lives are caught in the crossfire.
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 The Great White Hope 1970 PG-13, 102 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Martin Ritt
Cast: James Earl Jones, Jane Alexander, Lou Gilbert, Joel Fluellen, Chester Morris, Robert Webber, R.G. Armstrong, Hal Holbrook, Beah Richards, Moses Gunn
This film provides an insightful look at Jack Jefferson (James Earl Jones), the first black Heavyweight Champion of the World, and the racial prejudice he found surrounding his position. Both Jones and Jane Alexander received Oscar nominations.
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I Live on Danger 1942 N/R, 73 min.
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Director: Sam White
Cast: Chester Morris, Jean Parker, Elisabeth Risdon, Edward Norris, Dick Purcell, Roger Pryor, Douglas Fowley, Ralph Sanford, Edwin Maxwell, Patsy Nash, Bernadene Hayes, Billy Nelson
Newsman Jeff Morrell (Chester Morris) sets out to prove the innocence of Eddie (Edward Nelson) upon the urging of Eddie's sister, Susan (Jean Parker). In the process, the couple falls in love, and Jeff is successful in saving Eddie. An OK thriller.
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Meet Boston Blackie 1941 N/R, 61 min.
Genre: Mystery / Drama / Comedy
Director: Robert Florey
Cast: Chester Morris, Rochelle Hudson, Richard Lane, Charles Wagenheim, Constance Worth, Jack O'Malley, George Magrill, Michael Rand, Walter Sande, Eddie Laughton, John Tyrrell, Byron Foulger, Lee Shumway
In this "Boston Blackie" episode, Chester Morris debuts in the role of ex-con Boston Blackie. This time around, Blackie again teams up with his sidekick The Runt (Charles Wagenheim) to prove his innocence after being accused of murder while returning from an ocean cruise. Blackie and The Runt track down a gang of spies working out of Coney Island, and, with help from Cecelia Bradley (Rochelle Hudson), who insists on joining them, they crack the case.
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One Mysterious Night 1944 N/R, 61 min.
Genre: Mystery / Drama
Director: Budd Boetticher
Cast: Chester Morris, Janis Carter, Richard Lane, William Wright, George E. Stone, Robert Williams, Mark Roberts, Dorothy Malone, Lyle Latell, George McKay, Joseph Crehan, John Tyrrell, Ben Taggart
In this "Boston Blackie" episode, ex-thief Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) is accused of stealing the Niles diamond from a charity event at the Carleton Plaza Hotel. Police Inspector Farraday (Richard Lane) tells Blackie that if he finds the diamond and returns it, the charges will be dropped. Now, with his sidekick The Runt (George E. Stone) assisting, Blackie sets out to find the missing diamond. He catches the thugs and, as a bonus, gets an apology from Inspector Farraday.
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The Phantom Thief 1946 N/R, 65 min.
Genre: Mystery / Drama
Director: D. Ross Lederman
Cast: Chester Morris, Jeff Donnell, Richard Lane, Dusty Anderson, George E. Stone, Frank Sully, Marvin Miller, Wilton Graff, Murray Alper, Forbes Murray, Joseph Crehan, Eddie Dunn, George Magrill, Eddie Fetherston, Edmund Cobb
Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) is back, and this time around the reformed thief and his sidekick The Runt (George E. Stone) follow clues left by a jewel thief and killer that lead to a seance where spiritualist Dr. Nejino (Marvin Miller) and his racket are exposed.
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Public Hero No. 1 1935 N/R, 90 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: J. Walter Ruben
Cast: Lionel Barrymore, Jean Arthur, Chester Morris, Joseph Calleia, Paul Kelly, Lewis Stone, Paul Hurst, George E. Stone, Selmer Jackson, Walter Brennan
FBI agents are not far behind mob boss Sonny (Joseph Calleia) who has escaped from prison. This is an entertaining, suspense-filled drama featuring Lionel Barrymore as a hard-drinking doctor for the mob.
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Secret Command 1944 N/R, 82 min.
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Director: A. Edward Sutherland
Cast: Pat O'Brien, Carole Landis, Chester Morris, Ruth Warrick, Barton MacLane, Tom Tully, Wallace Ford, Howard Freeman, Frank Sully, Matt McHugh
Sam Gallagher (Pat O'Brien) is an agent with Naval Intelligence and is sent to a California shipyard during World War II to find Nazi saboteurs known to be operating there. He saves the day in this pretty good spy thriller.
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Sinners in the Sun 1932 N/R, 70 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Alexander Hall
Cast: Carole Lombard, Adrienne Ames, Chester Morris, Cary Grant, Walter Byron, Alison Skipworth, Rita La Roy, Ida Lewis, Reginald Barlow, Zita Moulton
When choosing between "money" and "love," a young woman learns that "love" is the best choice.
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Three Godfathers 1936 N/R, 82 min.
Genre: Western
aka: Miracle in the Sand
Director: Richard Boleslawski
Cast: Chester Morris, Lewis Stone, Walter Brennan, Irene Hervey, Sidney Toler, Dorothy Tree, Roger Imhof, Willard Robertson, Robert Livingston, John Sheehan
Three outlaws are on the run after robbing a bank when they come upon a covered wagon with a dying woman and a newborn baby inside. Though not unanimous, they decide that saving the baby is the top priority.
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Tomorrow at Seven 1933 N/R, 62 min.
Genre: Mystery
Director: Ray Enright
Cast: Chester Morris, Vivienne Osborne, Frank McHugh, Allen Jenkins, Henry Stephenson, Grant Mitchell, Charles Middleton, Oscar Apfel, Cornelius Keefe, Virginia Howell
The "Ace of Spades" is a killer on the loose in Chicago when mystery writer Neil Broderick (Chester Morris) along with bumbling detectives Clancy (Frank McHugh) and Dugan (Allen Jenkins) step in to save the day.
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Trapped by Boston Blackie 1948 N/R, 67 min.
Genre: Mystery / Drama
Director: Seymour Friedman
Cast: Chester Morris, June Vincent, Richard Lane, Patricia Barry, Edward Norris, George E. Stone, Frank Sully, Fay Baker, William Forrest, Sarah Selby, Mary Currier, Pierre Watkin, Ben Welden, Abigail Adams, Bess Flowers
While Boston Blackie (Chester Morris) and his sidekick The Runt (George E. Stone) are guarding a priceless pearl necklace that Claire Carter (Sarah Selby) plans to wear at a party she is giving, the necklace disappears. Inspector Farraday (Richard Lane) investigates and finds the necklace in Blackie's pocket. Once again, Blackie and The Runt escape and set out to find the thief in order to clear their names.
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Unchained 1955 N/R, 75 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Hall Bartlett
Cast: Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch, Chester Morris, Todd Duncan, Barbara Hale, Johnny Johnston, Jerry Paris, Peggy Knudsen, Chuck Connors, Tim Considine, John Qualen
Based on a true story this film tells about life on a prison farm in Chino, California. This film's theme song, "Unchained Melody," became a classic (and was nominated for an Oscar).
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| 1. Aerial Gunner (1943)
2. After Midnight with Boston Blackie (1943)
3. Alias Boston Blackie (1942)
4. Alibi (1929)
5. The Bat Whispers (1930)
6. The Big House (1930)
7. Blind Alley (1939)
8. Boston Blackie and the Law (1946)
9. Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion (1945)
10. Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood (1942)
11. Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture (1949)
12. Boston Blackie's Rendezvous (1945)
13. The Chance of a Lifetime (1943)
14. A Close Call for Boston Blackie (1946)
15. Confessions of Boston Blackie (1941)
16. The Devil's Playground (1937)
17. The Divorcee (1930)
18. Five Came Back (1939)
19. Frankie and Johnnie (1936)
20. Gambler's Choice (1944)
21. The Great White Hope (1970)
22. I Live on Danger (1942)
23. Meet Boston Blackie (1941)
24. One Mysterious Night (1944)
25. The Phantom Thief (1946)
26. Public Hero No. 1 (1935)
27. Pursuit (1935)
28. Secret Command (1944)
29. Sinners in the Sun (1932)
30. Three Godfathers (1936)
aka: Miracle in the Sand
31. Tomorrow at Seven (1933)
32. Trapped by Boston Blackie (1948)
33. Unchained (1955)
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