The Chance of a Lifetime

The Chance of a Lifetime(1943)

10/26/1943 (US)Crime, Mystery1h 5m

6.2

"ARRESTED FOR A MURDER HE DIDN'T COMMIT!"

Overview

A mad scramble for stolen loot ensues after Boston Blackie has prisoners released for work in a wartime defence plant.

William Castle

Director

Jack Boyle

Characters

Paul Yawitz

Writer

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Part of the Boston Blackie Collection

Jack Boyle's stories first appeared in the early 20th Century. "The Price of Principle" was a short story in the July 1914 issue of The American Magazine. Boyle's character also turned up in Cosmopolitan. In 1917, Redbook published the novelette "Boston Blackie’s Mary," and the magazine brought the character back with "The Heart of the Lily" (February, 1921). Boyle's stories were collected in the book Boston Blackie (1919), which was reprinted in 1979 by Gregg Press. Boyle died in 1928. [edit]Films The earliest film adaptations were silent, dating from 1918 to 1927. Columbia Pictures revived the property in 1941 with Meet Boston Blackie, a fast, 58-minute "B" feature starring Chester Morris. Although the running time was brief, Columbia gave the picture good production values and an imaginative director (Robert Florey). The film was successful, and a series followed.

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A review by CinemaSerf

6.0

Written on January 11, 2024

This time, "Boston" (Chester Morris) comes up with a proposal to the Governor that would allow some trusted prisoners to come and work in a factory to assist with the war effort. He agrees that they can live at his apartment but before long is embroiled in a plan to prove that "Dooley" (Erik Rolf) was set up for a murder he didn't commit. Unusually, "Insp. Faraday" (Richard Lane) is in on the plot to use "Blackie" as bait for the real criminal - well, him and $60,000 - and using some sleight of hand and his gang of well-meaning convicts lays a trap for... This doesn't hang about, is tightly cast with series regulars and with a more solid story than many of the other outings for an on form Morris, it passes an hour with a few red herrings and a precarious window-dangled confession at the end.