Boston Blackie's Chinese Ventureis a1949mystery filmdirected by Seymour Friedman, starringChester Morris.This was the last of Columbia's 14Boston Blackiepictures (1941–49).
| Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Seymour Friedman |
| Written by | Maurice Tombragel |
| Produced by | Rudolph Flothow |
| Starring | Chester Morris Maylia Fong Richard Lane |
| Cinematography | Vincent J. Farrar |
| Edited by | Richard Fantl |
| Music by | Mischa Bakaleinikoff |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures Corporation |
Release date |
|
Running time | 59 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
editBoston Blackie and hissidekickShorty are seen exiting aChinese laundrywhere the proprietor is soon found murdered. The suspects include a bored tour guide, a B-girl in a tavern, the inhabitants of an oldChinatowntenement,and Blackie and Shorty themselves. Investigating the murder one jump ahead of the police, Blackie and Shorty uncover an illegal gambling ring.
Production and reception
editThe film went into production under the titleBoston Blackie's Honor;the title was changed in July 1948.[1]Richard Lane,as long-suffering Inspector Farraday, was the only other character who appeared in all of the Boston Blackie films.George E. Stone,playing Blackie's sidekick The Runt, missed the first and the last films in the series due to illness. InChinese VentureStone was replaced bySid Tomackas "Shorty."
Columbia Pictureshad been gradually curtailing its "B" film series; most of them ended in 1948 and 1949. The previous film in theBoston Blackieseries wasTrapped by Boston Blackie(1948), and the assignment was given to promising first-time directorSeymour Friedman.Friedman had been an assistant director who had filmed several scenes for Columbia's major musicalDown to Earth.He was promoted to full-fledged director in December 1947.[2]Friedman did such a good job with the Boston Blackie picture that the series was extended for one more outing. Friedman returned as director ofBoston Blackie's Chinese Venture,which began filming in June 1948.
The finished film was released on March 3, 1949. The trade critics gave it passing marks. Publisher Pete Harrison called it "Nothing sensational, but it is a good Boston Blackie melodrama; it holds the spectator's interest pretty tense [sic] all the way through... The acting, as a result of the fairly skillful direction, is good."[3]It was the least expensive entry in theBoston Blackieseries, filmed in only 10 days[4]with a running time of 59 minutes (a new low for the series).
Cast
edit- Chester Morrisas Boston Blackie
- Maylia Fongas Mei Ling
- Richard Laneas Inspector William R. Farraday
- Sid Tomackas Shorty
- Frank Sullyas Detective Sergeant Matthews
- Don McGuireas Les, the tour guide
- Joan Woodburyas Red, the bar girl
- Charles Arntas Pop Gerard
- Luis Van Rootenas Bill Craddock (as Louis Van Rooten)
- Philip Ahnas Wong Chung Shee