Year: 1950
Runtime: 73 mins
Language: English
Director: Robert S. Baker
A blind man is witness to a murder; later cured of his blindness he attempts to puzzle out the solution to the crime.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Blackout (1950), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
An engineer, Christopher Pelley, loses his sight in an accident and undergoes an operation to restore his vision, hoping to reclaim some normalcy in his life. One night he’s dropped at the wrong address by a driver, slips inside, and discovers a body on the floor along with a ring. The three killers — Otto Ford, Guy Sinclair, and Mickey Garston — realize that a blind man cannot identify them, so they decide to simply knock him out and leave him where they think he won’t be found.
When Pelley regains consciousness, the police struggle to verify his story; they can’t locate the house or the body, and his eventual return to health after the operation rekindles his curiosity. He decides to follow the clues himself and returns to the place, where he finds Pat Dale living there with her father, Mr. Dale. A photo on the piano reveals that the ring belonged to her brother Norman, who is presumed dead after a plane crash a year earlier. Patricia Dale agrees to help him probe deeper, and together they seek out Norman’s old friend Chalky, who provides a couple of leads that push the investigation forward.
A stop at a travel agency brings Pelley face-to-face with the man whose voice he recognizes from the night he was knocked out — Guy Sinclair — exposing the confession that this trio is tied to a larger criminal scheme. It becomes clear that the three men are tangled in a smuggling racket, and Pelley manages to seize a book that, though encoded, implicates all of them. With this new evidence, he tracks the criminals to an isolated house known as The Grange and is captured by Mickey Garston.
Pelley escapes with the unexpected aid of Lila Drew, a girlfriend of Norman’s, and he teams up with Chalky to press the case further. They head to see Lila, but tragedy strikes when she is killed by Mickey before they can obtain crucial information. Patricia disappears after receiving a midday message, and Pelley soon realizes that Chalky has been covertly working with the gang all along. Chalky is killed by the gang in a misdirected strike that pits him against Pelley.
Determined to rescue Patricia, Pelley confronts The Grange once more and finds her being held there. The shocking truth emerges: Norman is actually alive and revealed as the gang’s ringleader, having faked his death to dodge arrest. The body Pelley had stumbled upon was that of a customs investigator. In a tense confrontation, Pelley thwarts the gang, and Norman meets his demise while fleeing the law. With danger behind them, Pelley and Patricia leave the Grange hand in hand, stepping into a uncertain but hopeful future.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:36
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Stories of dogged amateurs piecing together a criminal puzzle against the odds.If you enjoyed the patient, clue-gathering investigation in Blackout, you'll like these movies. This list features thrillers and mysteries where an amateur or unexpected protagonist uses logic and determination to solve a crime, often against a sophisticated criminal network. These films share a steady pace and a focus on the puzzle-solving aspect of the narrative.
The narrative follows a protagonist, often an amateur or someone with a unique perspective, who becomes entangled in a crime. The plot unfolds steadily as they methodically gather evidence, connect dots, and gradually expose a larger, more dangerous conspiracy than initially apparent. The journey is one of intellectual perseverance leading to a resolution.
Movies are grouped here because they share a central focus on the investigation process itself. They feature protagonists who rely on intelligence and persistence rather than action, creating a tense and engaging experience built on suspense and discovery, not violence.
Ordinary people who see too much, becoming targets in a deadly game.Fans of Blackout will appreciate these tense stories about witnesses who become targets. This collection includes films where an ordinary person's life is turned upside down after witnessing a crime, forcing them into a dangerous cat-and-mouse game. Expect suspenseful narratives with a medium intensity and a focus on survival and outsmarting the killers.
The narrative begins with a pivotal event where the protagonist accidentally witnesses a crime, often a murder. This instantly makes them a target, launching a story of pursuit, hiding, and eventual confrontation. The emotional journey is one of fear, resilience, and the fight to bring the truth to light while staying alive.
These films are united by the core premise of a vulnerable witness protagonist. They share a tense, anxious mood driven by the imminent threat of discovery and violence, creating a consistent vibe of suspense and danger that defines the viewing experience.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Blackout in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Blackout is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Blackout with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Blackout. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Blackout that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Blackout: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Blackout that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
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