Escape by Night (1937)

Runyonesque crooks on the lam hide out on blind man's pastoral farm and decide to go straight.

Director:

Hamilton MacFadden

Writer:

Harold Shumate (original screenplay)

Stars:

William Hall, Anne Nagel, Dean Jagger

Cast

Cast overview:
William Hall	...	Nicholas 'Nick' Allen
Anne Nagel	...	Linda Adams
Dean Jagger	...	James 'Capper' Regan
Steffi Duna	...	Josephine 'Jo' Elliott
Ward Bond	...	Peter 'Spudsy' Baker
Murray Alper	...	Horace 'Red' Graham
Charles Waldron	...	Pop Adams
George Meeker	...	Fred Peters
Wallis Clark	...	District Attorney Baldwin
Arthur Aylesworth	...	Sheriff Charlie Thornton
Anthony Warde	...	Mike Grayson (as Anthony Ward)
Bill	...	Bill - the Dog

Storyline

A group of criminals on the run hide out in an abandoned farmhouse. They find themselves being "looked after" by a friendly dog, and soon afterwards they meet up with a blind man and his young daughter, and they begin to rethink the direction their life has been taking them.

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Plot Keywords:

farm | gangster | gang member | mayor | treatment | 

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Taglines:

A blast of drama when a city mob hides out in the country!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 September 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fools in Paradise

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

64 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Mono (RCA Victor High Fidelity System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Nick is initially shot after helping Jo Elliot, he is running away from the rival mobsters and presumably is shot in the back of his shoulder. After they escape, he clutches at a non-existent wound on the front of his shoulder. Later, when he is treated by the gangland doctor, it is the top of the shoulder that is dressed and bandaged.

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Quotes

Nicholas Allen: I never did like to see a girl manhandled. Turn her loose!

User Reviews

Sentimental but enjoyable gangster programmer

This little show barely qualifies as even a "B" picture, but I found it quite enjoyable, and parts of it certainly rose above the mundane. It was fun to see William Hall in a rare leading role, as well as pretty Anne Nagel who looked like one of the Young sisters. Charles Waldron (Gen. Sternwood in The Big Sleep) has a role as a blind man who "sees" more than many of the sighted characters, and his cultured voice is always a pleasure to hear. Added to that you have good if predictable character roles for Ward Bond, Murray Alper and the seldom-seen Stefi Duna, with a fine turn by Dean Jagger (pre-bald days) as a really mean gangster. Since it's only a hair longer than one hour, give it a try...if you're not expecting a classic, you might very well enjoy yourself.