Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      Footsteps in the Dark

      1941 1h 36m Mystery & Thriller Comedy List
      Reviews 52% Audience Score 50+ Ratings Investment adviser Francis Warren (Errol Flynn) moonlights secretly as the author of detective novels. When a client who wants to cash in a stash of jewels is murdered, Francis believes that -- with his insight into the criminal world -- he can solve the case. His first suspect, however, meets a mysterious end. As the investigation grows more complicated than Francis imagined, he is unexpectedly accused of infidelity by his wife, Rita (Brenda Marshall), and also suspected by the police. Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

      View All (2) Critics Reviews
      Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Endearing little mystery comedy has charm. Nov 30, 2015 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Can you imagine Errol Flynn in a light comedy/suspense story, wearing a suit and a tie? Rated: C Mar 16, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

      View All (10) audience reviews
      Audience Member I give this 3 stars if for no other reason than Errol Flynn demonstrating that he could perform on camera not wearing tights or a cape, or wielding a sword. He's as handsome as ever, managing to hide the alcoholism that would claim his life at an early age two decades later. The mystery is so-so sprinkled with some corny humor. Warner Brothers should have developed some better vehicles for him, but the fan reaction to this film apparently caused the studio to steer their dashing leading man back to the swashbucklers for which he's better known. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Frances H Errol Flyn and sidekick Alan Hale, plus William Frawley, Ralph Bellamy and a host of great Hollywood Golden Era character actors make this light and frothy comedy murder flick fun to watch! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/27/20 Full Review Audience Member Charming and witty mystery story with banter between Flynn and whoever he's talking with. William Frawley is too loud and too obnoxious for this film, which has a light comedic feel to it. Flynn bounces his way through his role of being an investment counselor by day and a detective by night. Although it's too messy at the end, it's still a great film, despite not fitting the box that Flynn was expected to stay in. This movie shows that Flynn was capable of much more than simply being a swashbuckler. It's too bad his wit and charm were not more widely appreciated during these years when they were most apparent. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Lightweight comic mystery about Errol Flynn as a businessman who leads a double life as a mystery writer (from Texas) who gets caught up in a murder mystery while researching his latest book and ends up a prime suspect. There's nothing brilliant here, but the cast (Flynn, Brenda Marshall, Ralph Bellamy, and Alan Hale) is charming and that goes a long way. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Errol has a good time in this light hearted(and headed) mystery. Nothing special but breezy with what seems to be the entire Warners stock company along for the ride. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Footsteps in the Dark (1941) -- [5.5] -- This light-hearted murder mystery isn't likely to stick in your memory, but should satisfy Errol Flynn fans well enough. Flynn plays an author who writes under a secret identity -- so secret even his wife and mother don't realize it is he who is responsible for a scandalous novel that has recently put polite society up in arms. As life imitates art, Flynn finds himself embroiled in a real-life murder mystery, all while holding the police and his family at bay. My favorite scene is one where Flynn sneaks through the bedroom window at three in the morning and lies to his half-asleep wife about what time it is. He says 'midnight' just before a grandfather clock chimes three times. Desperate not to upset her, he dares to mimic nine more clock chimes. The supporting cast features Flynn regular Alan Hale, Ralph Bellamy, and "I Love Lucy" co-star William Frawley as a bungling cop. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      Photos

      View All Footsteps in the Dark photos

      Footsteps in the Dark

      Footsteps in the Dark (1941) Footsteps in the Dark (1941) Footsteps in the Dark (1941) Footsteps in the Dark (1941) Footsteps in the Dark (1941) View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Investment adviser Francis Warren (Errol Flynn) moonlights secretly as the author of detective novels. When a client who wants to cash in a stash of jewels is murdered, Francis believes that -- with his insight into the criminal world -- he can solve the case. His first suspect, however, meets a mysterious end. As the investigation grows more complicated than Francis imagined, he is unexpectedly accused of infidelity by his wife, Rita (Brenda Marshall), and also suspected by the police.
      Director
      Lloyd Bacon
      Producer
      Hal B. Wallis
      Screenwriter
      Lester Cole, John Wexley
      Production Co
      First National, Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
      Genre
      Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Sep 25, 2016
      Runtime
      1h 36m