Night Key (1937)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Lloyd Corrigan

Writers:

Jack Moffitt (writer)
William A. Pierce (story)

Release Date:

2 May 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Sci-Fi

Plot:

The inventor of a new top-of-the-line burglar alarm system is kidnapped by a gang in order to get him to help them commit robberies. |

Plot Keywords:

Robbery | Burglar Alarm | Inventor | Father Daughter Relationship | Hostage

Cast

Boris Karloff	...	David Mallory
Warren Hull	...	Jim Travers (as J. Warren Hull)
Jean Rogers	...	Joan Mallory
Alan Baxter	...	John Baron aka The Kid
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Petty Louie
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Steven Ranger (as Samuel Hinds)
David Oliver	...	Mike Callahan
Ward Bond	...	Fingers
Frank Reicher	...	Carl - gang engineer
Edwin Maxwell	...	Lawyer Kruger

Runtime:

68 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The restaurant in which Jean Mallory (Jean Rogers) works is a recycled set from the 1934 version of "Imitation of Life." The cashier's booth where Rogers is seen was used in "Imitation of Life" as the spot in which Fredi Washington was working when her mother came to the restaurant and "outed" her as Black.

KARLOFF HAS BEEN ROBBED!

Dave Mallory(Boris Karloff) is robbed of his invention, a burglar alarm system and a gang of thieves kidnap Karloff so they can use his invention to commit robberies. In this picture Karloff changes from a medieval monster and in NIGHT KEY he has relaxed into a soft-spoken, hazy-eyed old man who promises to become Hollywood's favorite grandpa. However, his invention performs Si-Fi gamma rays which proves deadly in a novel and exciting way to his enemies. The story does slow down for occasional time out for side romance.