The Panther’s Claw **½ (1942, Sidney Blackmer, Byron Foulger, Rick Vallin, Herbert Rawlinson, Gerta Rozan, Lynn Starr) – Classic Movie Review 4294

Sidney Blackmer takes over from Adolphe Menjou as tough Police Commissioner Thatcher Colt for director William Beaudine’s 1942 belated third Colt film, this time from PRC studios.

Extortion leads to homicide at the opera and Colt is called to unravel the mystery and sift through the dodgy suspects to reveal the killer.

Beaudine’s film is a cheap, quick-moving B-movie thriller with no pretensions or unnecessary details, and with enough excitement, atmosphere and tension to fill its short running time.

And, with an excellent performance from Blackmer and strong character acting, this is a good example of its humble B-movie mystery kind.

Also in the cast are Byron Foulger, Rick Vallin, Herbert Rawlinson, Gerta Rozan, Lynn Starr, Barry Bernard, Joaquin Edwards, John Ince, Martin Ashe, Walter James, Frank Darien, Joseph DeVillard, Jack Van, Willy Castello, Harry Clark, Lew Leroy, Billy Mitchell, Florence O’Brien, Harte Wayne, Pat McKee, Casey MacGregor and Billy Snyder.

Martin Mooney’s screenplay is based on the novel The Perfect Crime of Mr Digberry by Anthony Abbott (aka Foulton Oursler).

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4294

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