Footsteps in the Dark (1941)

“Gee Blondie, words come out of you just as beautiful as oil comes out of a derrick!” 24 August 2019

The Quick Pitch:  Unbeknownst to everyone in his life, a respected investment advisor is secretly a successful mystery writer.  But when he gets mixed up in a real murder, he finds out that murdereres aren’t as easy to catch when he’s not writring the story.

For whatever reason, I’ve never been much of a fan of Errol Flynn.  After watching Footsteps in the Dark, I may need to rethink that opinion.  He’s great here. Watching him frantically try to stay one step ahead of the police, avoid the baddies, and keep his secrets from his wife - it’s good stuff.  Director Lloyd Bacon keeps things moving at a quick, wonderful pace with little time to take a breath. The mystery is interesting enough with plenty of twists and turns.  The final solution may be a bit obvious, but who cares when it’s all so fun. Flynn is joined by a fantastic supporting cast, with Allen Jenkins, William Frawley, and Brenda Marshall standing out.  Overall, Footsteps in the Dark is a terrifically entertaining little film. It’s too bad there aren’t more of these movies. The adventures of F.X. Pettijohn would have made a great Thin Man type series.

8/10