Footsteps in the Dark (1941)

Alan Hale: Police Inspector Charles M. Mason

Photos 

Quotes 

• Police Insp. Charles M. Mason : Say, listen, doctor. This is very important. I want another autopsy on Fissue. And be very careful this time. It's possible he was murdered by some obscure drug that you might have overlooked.

  Coroner : I'm very sorry, Inspector. But I can't make another autopsy. Why not? Because the body was cremated yesterday.

  Police Insp. Charles M. Mason : All right. Then don't do it.

• Police Insp. Charles M. Mason : A jewel importer keeps his stuff in his safe. He doesn't run around with it in his pockets.

  Francis Monroe Warren II : Suppose he took it out of the safe for some purpose?

  Police Insp. Charles M. Mason : He could have been wearing a kilt, but he wasn't.

• Police Insp. Charles M. Mason : Even burlesque queens can have toothaches, you know.

• Police Insp. Charles M. Mason : [Showing Francis the clue of a woman's broken high heel]  What do you make of this, my omniscient friend?

  Francis Monroe Warren II : Why don't you see a fortune teller?

• Police Insp. Charles M. Mason : You wouldn't by any chance be insulting me would you?

  Francis Monroe Warren II : Oh, no, I was just being philosophic.

  Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins : Oh, so that's your racket, huh?

• Police Insp. Charles M. Mason : [the police are leaving, but Warren has decided to remain behind at Fissue's apartment]  Aren't you coming?

  Francis Monroe Warren II : No thanks.

  Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins : What are you gonna' hang around here for?

  Francis Monroe Warren II : Why, to find out who murdered Fissue, of course.

  Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins : He can't help it, Inspector. Black *is* white, you know.

  Police Insp. Charles M. Mason : Well, don't come to me for sympathy if you get arrested for trespassing.

  Francis Monroe Warren II : And don't you come to me if you get arrested for drawing your salary under false pretenses.

• Francis Monroe Warren II : [on the phone with Insp. Mason, talking about Blondie White]  You saw her? Well, naturally she'll deny it. She'll deny anything. She's a woman. What do you expect?

  Police Insp. Charles M. Mason : Even a stupid professional like myself would know the difference between an airtight alibi and a lie. The lady was in the dentist's chair between the hours of 4:30 and 6:00 on Tuesday afternoon which *more* than covers the time during which Fissue died... Yes, "dentist." Even burlesque queens can have toothaches, you know.