One Mysterious Night (1944)

An ex-jewel thief (Chester Morris) turns into an emissary for those in need of help. When a priceless diamond is stolen, a police chief (Richard Lane) seeks his aid in finding the real culprit. Based on the Boston Blackie character created by Jack Boyle and directed by Budd Boetticher (THE TALL T) in his directorial film debut. The seventh film in the fourteen movie Boston Blackie franchise is a quick moving crime caper but it is seriously hampered by its lame attempts at comedy. In particular, its portrayal of the police as bungling incompetents just isn't funny. Sure, show them as unable to grasp the obvious but they're played as cartoonish clowns. But audiences seemed to enjoy these B detective comedies and Chester Morris played Boston Blackie from 1941 to 1949. With Dorothy Malone, Janis Carter, Mark Roberts and George E. Stone.