Phantom Killer (1942)

Director
William Beaudine

Cast
Dick Purcell - Edward Arlington Clark
Joan Woodbury - Barbara Mason
John Hamilton - John G. Harrison
Mantan Moreland - Nicodemus

I found the movie Phantom Killer after purchasing a three-film collection of black and white "phantom" movies at a Half-Priced Books in Kansas City.
The set also includes The Phantom of 42nd Street (1945) and The Phantom of Chinatown (1940). The latter stars Chinese-born American actor, Keye Luke (Gremlins, Gremlins 2). I'll get to those later.
The movie centers around John G. Harrison (John Hamilton), a deaf-mute philanthropist, who's supposedly witnessed seen leaving Cromwell Finance Corp where a murder has taken place.
A janitor named Nicodemus (Mantan Moreland) witnessed a man similar in appearance to Harrison leave the Finance Corp. The man also asked Nicodemus for a light for his cigar, and for the time.
Nicodemus later finds the Cromwell president dead.
However, other people witnessed Harrison attending a charity function at the time of the murder.
Assistant District Attorney Edward Clark (Dick Purcell) knows Harrison is guilty, but can't figure out how. Still, he has a "feeling" based on the fact that other murders around the city were committed on nights when Harrison was attending charity functions. Coincidence? I THINK NOT!
His journalist girlfriend, Barbara Mason (Joan Woodbury) doesn't understand his inclination as there's no way someone can be two places at once...or...is there?
On top of this, a physician has previously examined Harrison and can confirm that he is a deaf-mute. Yet, someone matching his exact description verbally asked Nicodemus for a light and the time.
During a trial, Nicodemus identifies Harrison as the man he saw at the Cromwell building.
Meanwhile, Mason has been interviewing Harrison for an in-depth story, and continues to work against Clark's investigation believing Harrison to be innocent.
It's an intriguing story for sure.
They used Nicodemus's character as a comic relief during a questioning scene at the trial.
Nicodemus, being a black man, was portrayed rather juvenile as his testimony prompted laughter from court observers rather than just convey relevant information.

Mantan Moreland (center) as Nicodemus in Phantom Killer

His was that typical low-quality humor, not stupid but not intelligent either, that's often seen with black characters in early movies.
Nicodemus had a crucial role in the movie as he was a key eyewitness to something big. Yet, he was portrayed as being not the brightest witness in the story despite his crucial testimony. Even in 1942, Nicodemus could have been written a whole lot better than he was - an important character, yet still the joke.
It was out of place for a court scene.
Still, I admire movies from this era as actors generally put their best effort into their roles, which is evident in Phantom Killer.
Even Moreland as Nicodemus put in all he had in his character.
Director William Beaudine later went on to director episodes of the TV series The Green Hornet as well as Lassie. He also directed a movie I've been trying to get my hands on for some time  - Billy the Kid vs. Dracula.
Phantom Killer is a quick fix for any film noir fan. It's like reading a cheap paperback from a used bookstore. The story is a nice getaway for an hour. And then the mystery is solved - back to real life.
In this movie, the conclusion is suggested very early on. It risks spoiling the entire movie because once one of the characters suggests how the crime was committed, it's pretty obvious.
Phantom Killer is an overall enjoyable popcorn crime drama. It's very much a period movie, which goes without saying. Fans of movie serials and early crime stories should get something out of it.