Footsteps in the Dark (1941)Errol Flynn was the Charlie Sheen of the 1940s and 50s. His fun-loving boyish charm had women eating out of his hand, despite him getting into some romantic troubles. This comedy shows off Flynn's charm and comedy chops better than ever.Francis Warren (Flynn) is a high society stock broker
with a beautiful wife, Rita (Brenda Marshall) and live-in Mother-in-law, Agatha Archer (Lucile Watson). But Francis has a double life. He is an author, using the pen-name F.X. Penttijohn, and writes pulp murder mysteries, and hangs out with the Police Inspector Charles Mason (Alan Hale) and Detective 'Hoppy' Hopkins (William Frawley). Francis trades barbs with the police detectives, but also gets some great ideas for future books. He challenges them that he can solve their crimes better than they can. His chauffeur/side-kick/typist, Wilfred (Alan Jenkins) helps him sneak back into his bedroom window at late-nights. Francis's Wife and Mother-in-law are trying to find this author to sue him for writing about their high society friends in his books. Also a jewel smuggler shows up at Francis's office, threatening to expose him as Penttijohn, if he doesn't launder money for diamonds for him. When the smuggler winds up murdered, he has several reasons to find his murderer.Francis throws on the charm to Rita and Agatha, but his story is beginning to unravel to the suspicious women. He's also trying to get close to a murder suspect, a burlesque dancer, Blondie White (Lee Patrick) by acting like a rich Texan.
April 23, 2011
