Footsteps in the Dark *** (1941, Errol Flynn, Brenda Marshall, Ralph Bellamy, Alan Hale, Lee Patrick) – Classic Movie Review 11,642

Director Lloyd Bacon’s 1941 Footsteps in the Dark is a lively Forties comedy thriller, with Flynn cast against type in suit and bow-tie (looking a bit stiff and odd) as Francis Warren, an investment adviser who leads a double life by writing lurid detective thriller novels under the pseudonym F.X. Pettijohn.

He does a bit of real-life sleuthing when he encounters Leopold Fissue (Noel Madison), a teetotaller jewel thief who help him turn uncut diamonds into cash but next day supposedly dies of acute alcoholism on a yacht. The trail leads to burlesque dancer Blondie White (Lee Patrick), now the prime suspect in what is a murder case.

Strong, light-hearted scripting, sharp, pacy handling and bright playing ensure that this slick escapist froth is mighty entertaining. Flynn acquits himself well, and there’s pleasure to be found in the amusing, hard-working support performances from a good cast, but especially Ralph Bellamy, Lee Patrick, Allen Jenkins and William Frawley. If you don’t look for substance, it is all most diverting.

Lester Cole and John Wexley’s screenplay is based on two plays: Footsteps in the Dark (1935) by Ladislas Fodor, and Blondie White (1937) by Bernard Merivale and Jeffrey Dell.

Blondie White was about detective novel writer Frank Warren, who gets involved with his wife in a real-life murder. It debuted in London in 1937 with Basil Sydney and Joan Marion.

In July 1940 Lester Cole was hired to rewrite John Wexley’s screenplay, calling him ‘a fine playwright and screenwriter’ but saying the story ‘was hardly his style’. Filming started in October 1940.

Though it went well, it was one of Flynn’s less successful movies at the box office and it is Flynn’s last comedic role till Never Say Goodbye (1946).

Bellamy recalled ‘Flynn was a darling. Couldn’t or wouldn’t take himself seriously. And he drank like there was no tomorrow. Had a bum ticker from the malaria he’d picked up in Australia. Also a spot of TB. Tried to enlist but flunked his medical, so he drank some more. Knew he wouldn’t live into old age. He really had a ball in Footsteps in the Dark. He was so glad to be out of swashbucklers.’

The cast are Errol Flynn as Francis Monroe Warren II, Brenda Marshall as Rita Warren, Ralph Bellamy as Dr. R.L. Davis, Alan Hale as Police Inspector Charles M. Mason, Lee Patrick as Blondie White, Allen Jenkins as Mr. Wilfred, Lucile Watson as Mrs. Agatha Archer, William Frawley as Detective ‘Hoppy’ Hopkins, Roscoe Karns as Monahan, Grant Mitchell as Wellington Carruthers, Maris Wrixon as June Brewster, Noel Madison as Leopold Fissue, Jack La Rue as Ace Vernon, Turhan Bey as Ahmed, Robert Homans as Police Captain, Olaf Hytten as Horace, Frank Mayo as Joe, and Jack Mower as Police Sgt. Brent,

Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,642

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