Night Key

Director: Lloyd Corrigan Lloyd Corrigan

Overview

In this crime thriller, an ailing scientist is robbed of the burglar alarm that he invented -- by his partner, who owns a security company. The scientist invents a superior alarm to provide for his daughter and tries to sell it to the company, but his partner refuses to sell it.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/07/2014
UPC:	0025192180903
Original Release:	1937
Source:	ALLIED VAUGHN
Language:	English
Time:	1:08:00
Sales rank:	54,227

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Boris Karloff	David Mallory
Warren Hull	Jim Travers
Jean Rogers	Joan Mallory
Hobart Cavanaugh	Petty Louie
Samuel S. Hinds	Steve Ranger
Alan Baxter	John Baron
David Oliver	Mike
Edwin Maxwell	Lawyer Kruger
Ward Bond	Finger Man
Frank Hagney	Henchman (uncredited),Actor
Frank Reicher	Carl - gang engineer
Ethan Laidlaw	Henchman (uncredited)
George Cleveland	Sam Adams - Company Engineer (uncredited)
Charles Wilson	Police Capt. Wallace (uncredited)
Antonio Filauri	Alarm Technician (uncredited)
Ralph Dunn	ABC Delivery Garageman-Thug (uncredited)

Technical Credits

Lloyd Corrigan	Director
John P. Fulton	Special Effects
Robert Presnell	Producer

Editorial Reviews

The presence of Boris Karloff may lead many to think that Night Key is a horror film, but in fact it is instead a rather routine crime melodrama. While the film itself is at best enjoyable, Key is really worth watching for one of the rare opportunities to see (Karloff not only in a non-horror film but also in a "good guy" role. True, Karloff's character does participate in robberies here, but that's to right a wrong done him and, later, to protect his daughter from harm. The actor is, in fact, quite kind, gentle and fatherly in Key, and while the film doesn't exploit the unique facets of his talent, it does show that he easily could have essayed a wider range of roles had the opportunities presented themselves. Also in the cast is Hobart Cavanugh, in a good turn as Karloff's duplicitous partner and Jean Rogers, appealing and attractive as his daughter. The screenplay isn't much to write home about, and Lloyd Corrigan's direction is by-the-book, but Key is at least swiftly paced.