The police and fire department are called to the Hotel Royale. A woman is going to jump off the roof. Inside, Bellhop Buzzy O’Brien (Frankie Darro) is hiding under the bed while two bond thieves are on their way out. The cops go to the roof and there’s Jefferson (Mantan Moreland) walking a dummy on the edge. He says Buzzy told him to do it in order to attract the cops.
In the lobby, the crooks are walking Darro out the door when the cops nab them. Copper Steve Lanahan tells Buzzy to stop playing detective or else. Will Buzzy listen? Of course not.
He’s in the room of a girl who asks if a Thaddeus Porter is registered. He calls the desk and tells her he’s right down the hall. Later, he gets a telegram for Porter. He goes to deliver it and there’s Jefferson knocking on the door. The door’s open. They walk in. Porter’s dead.
Jefferson says he saw a girl in a striped dress go through the service door. It’s the same dress Darro saw the girl in the room wearing. Time to start detecting again. He decides to help the girl.
Not a bad time passer. A light mystery that shows Darro and Moreland can easily handle this type of movie. That’s probably why they were paired up six times.
Vintage45's Blog 