I know this episode, Dark Alibi, drives people crazy, but I love it.
Without the fillers, the movie would run about ten minutes.
Charlie (Sidney Toler) volunteers to help a man, Thomas Harley, going to death row to prove his innocence. The problem? His fingerprints are at a robbery/murder scene, and this man claims he was never there. There's another problem. Fifteen years ago, he was in prison.
Charlie sets out to prove that somehow, the fingerprints are forged. This means a trip to the prison and a study of past robberies where, in fact, the person convicted claimed he was not present.
That's the story. We know today fingerprints can be forged, but it's a lot of work for Charlie and team to get there.
While at the prison, Birmingham (Mantan Moreland) runs into a man he says is his brother Ben (Ben Carter). The two of them do their marvelous routine of cutting the other one off mid-sentence. "I didn't know you were seeing..." "Oh, yes, I've been keeping company with her." "But isn't she..." "No, she's lost a lot of weight." And so on. Meanwhile Tommy Chan (Benson Fong) can't follow a word they're saying.
It's hilarious, and it's a routine they did called Pidgin English, an act they did before getting into films. Sadly, Carter died of diphtheria shortly after filming this. He is so excellent in "Crash Dive," where he plays a member of Tyrone Power's submarine team, as a complete equal with the other men.
When Charlie, Birmingham, and Tommy go to a theater warehouse, Birmingham nearly has a nervous breakdown. Another very funny scene. I suppose this kind of thing is considered un-pc today, but Moreland was a wonderful talent. I love his line deliveries. He and Benson Fong play beautifully off of one another.
When one of the characters dies, Charlie runs out and lifts her wrist - she died seconds earlier and she's already in rigor mortis. Had to chuckle.
Phil Karlson directed this, and he did a great job - there are some interesting angles and shadows, and scenes in what looks like a real prison.
HIghly enjoyable.
Without the fillers, the movie would run about ten minutes.
Charlie (Sidney Toler) volunteers to help a man, Thomas Harley, going to death row to prove his innocence. The problem? His fingerprints are at a robbery/murder scene, and this man claims he was never there. There's another problem. Fifteen years ago, he was in prison.
Charlie sets out to prove that somehow, the fingerprints are forged. This means a trip to the prison and a study of past robberies where, in fact, the person convicted claimed he was not present.
That's the story. We know today fingerprints can be forged, but it's a lot of work for Charlie and team to get there.
While at the prison, Birmingham (Mantan Moreland) runs into a man he says is his brother Ben (Ben Carter). The two of them do their marvelous routine of cutting the other one off mid-sentence. "I didn't know you were seeing..." "Oh, yes, I've been keeping company with her." "But isn't she..." "No, she's lost a lot of weight." And so on. Meanwhile Tommy Chan (Benson Fong) can't follow a word they're saying.
It's hilarious, and it's a routine they did called Pidgin English, an act they did before getting into films. Sadly, Carter died of diphtheria shortly after filming this. He is so excellent in "Crash Dive," where he plays a member of Tyrone Power's submarine team, as a complete equal with the other men.
When Charlie, Birmingham, and Tommy go to a theater warehouse, Birmingham nearly has a nervous breakdown. Another very funny scene. I suppose this kind of thing is considered un-pc today, but Moreland was a wonderful talent. I love his line deliveries. He and Benson Fong play beautifully off of one another.
When one of the characters dies, Charlie runs out and lifts her wrist - she died seconds earlier and she's already in rigor mortis. Had to chuckle.
Phil Karlson directed this, and he did a great job - there are some interesting angles and shadows, and scenes in what looks like a real prison.
HIghly enjoyable.