A Scream in the Night (1935)

A colonial police detective in an Eastern seaport seeks a stolen gem, and infiltrates the underworld by posing as a look-alike wharfside bar owner.

Director:

Fred C. Newmeyer (as Fred Newmeyer)

Writer:

Norman Springer (story)

Stars:

John Ince, Zarah Tazil, Manuel López

Cast

Cast overview:
John Ince	...	Joe Bentley
Zarah Tazil	...	Mora (as Zara Tazil)
Manuel López	...	Johnny Fly (as Manuel Lopez)
Richard Cramer	...	Inspector Green (as Dick Cramer)
Sheila Terry	...	Edith Bentley
Merrill McCormick	...	Jalla (as Merril Mc Cormick)
Philip Ahn	...	Wu Ting (as Philip Ann)
John Lester Johnson	...	John
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Jack Wilson / Butch Curtain

Storyline

A colonial police detective in an Eastern seaport seeks a stolen gem, and infiltrates the underworld by posing as a look-alike wharfside bar owner.

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Plot Keywords:

catfight | money lender | investigation | jewel thief | uncle niece relationship | 

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although this film was made in 1935, there is no evidence it was actually shown publicly until 1943, when Astor Pictures acquired the rights and put it out to take advantage of Lon Chaney Jr.'s subsequent stardom in horror roles for Universal.

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Crazy Credits

Philip Ahn is listed in the credits as "Philip Ann."

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Connections

Edited into Terror in the Pharaoh's Tomb (2007)

User Reviews

Double Your Lon

Creaky Ray Kirkwood Production about a man and his niece in an Eastern seaport meeting trouble over a stolen gem. The uncle gets his hands on a rare gem briefly before it is taken from him along with his niece. A colonial policeman, and former/future love interest to the pretty niece, goes incognito as a henchman for the kidnapper/thief with whom he has an uncanny resemblance. This is basically the plot of this short, barely under an hour, cheaply-made production. Director Fred C. Newmeyer doesn't have much to work with here: sparse budget despite the need of an "exotic" setting, a weak, yet spirited script by Norman Springer where the dual roles of Detective Jack Wilson and Butch Curtain are the primary focal points, and some less than inspiring performances. Lon Chaney plays the dual roles and is at the very least a hoot to watch. His Jack Wilson is very good and conservatively played, but Chaney goes all out for his ugly, swarthy, drunk, gambling, less-than-brilliant Butch Curtain. Though neither character gets much depth of characterization, there are a few scenes with Chaney hamming it up as Curtain gambling that I found humorous - while he plays darts a parrot continually taunts him and gets him to eye the bird several times prior to throwing a knife with great accuracy at the dart board. Shelia Terry is very fetching as the lovely niece if nothing else, but none of the other actors are too good nor are they real horrible either. This movie is mildly entertaining but really suffers from the budgetary constraints of being a Ray Kirkwood Production. The title is also misleading as it has almost nothing to do with anything.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 July 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

Murder in Morocco

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ray Kirkwood Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

58 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1