The Lone Wolf Keeps a Date

During the 1940s, Columbia Pictures made two nearly identical B-detective series--Boston Blackie and The Lone Wolf. At times, the plots of the two seemed almost interchangeable and the formula was very similar. Both featured stupid police inspectors with even stupider assistants, both featured a leading man who had once been a criminal but had now gone straight and both featured a prominent role for a supporting buddy for the lead. About the only major difference was that the Lone Wolf's man-servant (Eric Blore) was hilarious and Blackie's friend ("Runt", usually played by George E. Stone) was relatively bland compared to the incomparable Blore. Blore simply was a very funny man in films like this as well as in the Astaire-Rogers films.

Now as for the plot, it involves a kidnapped man and a woman who is trying to solve this mystery in order to clear her fiancé who has been wrongly jailed for the crime. Not unexpectedly, the Lone Wolf (Warren William) stumbles upon this very pretty lady and offers his able assistance. While none of this is particularly original or memorable, the acting is excellent and the film is all in good fun. Overall, better than a Blackie film and about on par with a Falcon or Saint series film.