Night Key (1937)

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.

Director:

Lloyd Corrigan

Writers:

Tristram Tupper (screenplay), Jack Moffitt (screenplay) (as John C. Moffitt)

Stars:

Boris Karloff, Warren Hull, Jean Rogers

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited 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	...	Stephen Ranger (as Samuel Hinds)
David Oliver	...	Mike Callahan
Ward Bond	...	Fingers
Frank Reicher	...	Carl
Edwin Maxwell	...	Kruger

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

security system | father daughter relationship | alarm | robbery | inventor | 

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Genres:

Crime | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

2 May 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alerte la nuit

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

68 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Character actor Lloyd Corrigan, an inexperienced director, had replaced Sidney Salkow, who had replaced Arthur Lubin, who had replaced Ralph Murphy.

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Connections

Featured in 100 Years of Horror: Boris Karloff (1996)

User Reviews

Burglary with Boris!

The almighty Boris Karloff is primarily an icon of horror cinema so it's a bit peculiar that this film, which is in no way horror-related, got included in the fancy and recently released Karloff DVD-collection (cover image displayed here on the main page). Personally, I'm glad it's there, as "Night Key" was completely unknown to me and it's always a great pleasure to discover a new film from your favorite actor, especially if it's as amusing and adequately plotted as this film! Boris is once again very convincing as the elderly inventor of burglar alarms who just reached a personal breakthrough with his new system of a beam-based alarm. When he attempts to sell his invention to a major company, the manager slash former business partner robs him for the second time and Mallory develops a plan to get even. By developing a way to crack the old alarm systems, he hopes to sell his new one quicker but unfortunately a gang of mobsters takes quite an interest in his burglary methods… "Night Key" is by no means a mesmerizing film, but it benefices from a good pace and excellent acting performances. Apart from Boris, there's the really great acting to admire of Alan Baxter, Ward Bond and Hobart Cavanaugh as a small time crook. It's a fun little film, albeit very politically correct and loaded with clichés and stereotypes.