London Blackout Murders (1943)

Inspired no doubt by real life serial murderer Gordon Cummins, convicted and hanged in 1942 for killing four women during wartime London blackouts, Curt Siodmak’s script for this Republic Pictures B-movie gives the story a nationalist twist. He also changed the victims to a group of well-connected men who die from poison. Lead actor John Abbott is revealed as the killer about ten minutes in. His weapon is a syringe concealed inside of a pipe. From there, we’re left to watch his exploits as he kills off his carefully selected targets in an air raid shelter and on a train. The only mystery is his motive, which is saved for the climax. Like every Republic programmer from the time, this film comes and goes in a flash, not even lasting an hour, and features a cast of familiar faces for old movie freaks. Frequent B-movie detective Lloyd Corrigan represents Scotland Yard with a sturdy performance and a faint attempt at an English accent. Anita Bolster, Republic’s go-to woman when they need an old crone, and old silent comedy performer-turned-character-actor Billy Bevan and his handlebar mustache show up in small roles. Meanwhile, B-movie workhorse director George Sherman counts this among seven films that he churned out for that year.