Boston Blackie's Rendezvous (1945)

After his pal "Manleder" (Harry Hayden) almost breaks down his door one night, he regales "Blackie" (Chester Morris) and "Runt" (George E. Stone) with a story of his nephew who has been in a sanatorium accused of being a strangler - and that he has escaped. Assuring him things will be fine, "Blackie" is soon face to face with the rumoured throttler - "Cook" (Steve Cochran) then left wondering if there might be truth to the allegations. "Insp. Faraday" (Richard Lane) and his sidekick "Matthews" (Frank Sully) are quickly on the case and, as usual, they jump to a series of wrong conclusions that makes the search for the killer and the protection of the damsel in distress "Sally" (Nina Foch) all the harder as the body count starts to mount. It's good fun this one, with plenty of action and a decently witty script that provides for plenty of banter as the chase hots up. The denouement itself isn't up to much, it's a bit flat actually, but Morris is on good form and his impersonation of the woman's elderly grandmother does raise a smile. Not the best of these mysteries, but it's enjoyable for an hour.