Those are exactly the words Blackie's friend the 'Runt' uses when he realizes what a mess they've got in this time... No, this certainly isn't one of the 'usual' cases where some crook assumes Blackie's identity - it's a real maniac that's escaped from the asylum; and because he happens to be the nephew of Blackie's friend Manleder, Blackie promises to help finding him. But the disturbed youth manages to take Blackie by surprise and get hold of a set of his clothes - and then he goes on a murder spree...
Now this is a REALLY unusual mixture of an almost Noir murder tale, scary and extremely suspenseful - and the familiar 'Boston Blackie' crime comedy, with moments of sheer nonsense (like when Blackie almost drives the psychologist crazy that Inspector Faraday has hired in order to make sure that Blackie hasn't actually turned into a homicidal maniac...). And strange as it sounds, it manages to hold the delicate balance between both - which is REALLY saying something for the writers as well as for the actors (every single one of whom is giving an EXTRAORDINARY performance)!
But this part of the 'Boston Blackie' series HAS got something serious in it: the issue of a murderer not really responsible for his deeds; and Blackie all the time tries to calm him down, assuring him that he understands him and wants to help him - only to keep him from strangling another girl and finally let Faraday catch him. Only? No, I don't think so. We know Blackie well enough that he DOES feel pity for the demented young man - and that he WILL be sent back to the asylum and not on the electric chair...
Now this is a REALLY unusual mixture of an almost Noir murder tale, scary and extremely suspenseful - and the familiar 'Boston Blackie' crime comedy, with moments of sheer nonsense (like when Blackie almost drives the psychologist crazy that Inspector Faraday has hired in order to make sure that Blackie hasn't actually turned into a homicidal maniac...). And strange as it sounds, it manages to hold the delicate balance between both - which is REALLY saying something for the writers as well as for the actors (every single one of whom is giving an EXTRAORDINARY performance)!
But this part of the 'Boston Blackie' series HAS got something serious in it: the issue of a murderer not really responsible for his deeds; and Blackie all the time tries to calm him down, assuring him that he understands him and wants to help him - only to keep him from strangling another girl and finally let Faraday catch him. Only? No, I don't think so. We know Blackie well enough that he DOES feel pity for the demented young man - and that he WILL be sent back to the asylum and not on the electric chair...