Night Key (1937)

Touches You

A Masterpiece!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Copyright 23 April 1937 by Universal Pictures Co., Inc. New York opening at the Central: 18 April 1937. U.S. release: 2 May 1937. U.K. release: June 1937. 6,098 feet. 67¾ minutes.SYNOPSIS: Dave Mallory invents a superior burglar alarm, but is swindled by his former partner. So he invents a neutralizing apparatus and stages a series of "burglaries".NOTES: Karloff's first starring role for Universal in comparatively normal make-up. Universal's publicity flacks made much of this little item of "news", pointing out that it took Jack Pierce only 90 minutes to prepare the actor for his role.COMMENT: No wonder Corrigan went back to acting! As a director, he was hopelessly inept, unable to pries respectable performances even from halfway decent actors. Samuel S. Hinds is the worst offender here, standing stiffly whilst he rattles off lines like a talking weighing machine.Karloff's dithery old scientist proves a disappointing bore. Not his fault. The main plot performs as well as tepid tea. A romantic sub- plot pans out equally mindlessly. A bit of action at the finale, plus one agreeably menacing shot between the heads of the crooks as they advance on our hero, fail to compensate for the picture's overall lack of sparkle and penny-pinching production values.OTHER VIEWS: Under Lloyd Corrigan's polished direction, this first- rate thriller is capably served throughout by enjoyable players. — The New York Times.

David Mallory is an inventor. Twenty years ago, he invented an alarm system that was so good his partner, Steven Ranger, stole his ideas and set-up his own security/alarm firm without compensating Mallory. Well, Mallory has now developed two new inventions. The first is an improvement on his old system – an electronic beam that detects intruders. He intends to sell the improvement to Ranger. It' s not until his old buddy does him wrong a second time that Mallory unveils his second new invention – an electronic key that will allow anyone who uses it to bypass the Ranger security system. Mallory begins using it to set off alarms all over town as a joke to annoy Ranger. But when the local crime boss gets wind of Mallory's invention, he wants it – and not for practical jokes.While Boris Karloff is always welcome in any movie he appeared in, the role of David Mallory could, in all honesty, have been played by just about anyone. The role did not require Karloff's unique talents and abilities. I suppose that's one of the things that bothers me the most about Night Key – you have Karloff, why not use him to the fullest? I understand that Universal owed Karloff a movie, but why make this? Why not put him in something more in keeping with the image that Universal had already built up? It doesn't make much sense to me.Overall, however, Night Key is an enjoyable little b-type picture. The film is nicely paced with rarely a lull to loss interest. Director Lloyd Corrigan does a solid job in that area. And the 68 minute runtime doesn't hurt either. The acting is good. Other than Karloff, I was impressed with Jean Rogers as his daughter and Hobart Cavanaugh as his less than reputable new friend. Though it's often predictable, the plot is nonetheless engaging. While I could have done without the subplot involving the relationship between Rogers' characters and one of the Ranger security guards, I've got few complaints otherwise. Overall, Night Key is not a bad way to spend an evening.

While not a major role for Boris Karloff, this film shows that he could have played nicer guys in his career, if he had never been shown the road to cinematic fame. He plays David Mallory, a kindly, hard working inventor who has perfected one of the first complete security systems of modern times (the 1930s version of those systems that are used in films like MISSION IMPOSSIBLE). Mallory lives with his daughter Joan (Jean Rogers) and hopes that it's marketing will give them the financial security that they have always deserved. But he has been cheated by his partner, Steven Ranger (Samuel S. Hinds) with the assistance of his lawyer Kreuger (Edwin Maxwell). Mallory is torn between seeking legal redress and getting vengeance (a typical Karloff situation, but usually his ego pushes it towards vengeance). Instead, he is befriended by a small time thief (Hobart Cavanaugh) whom he helps by defusing his alarm system in a robbery. Unfortunately this comes to the attention of a major criminal (Alan Baxter) who forces Karloff to do this to all the businesses that are using his system (the "Night Key" of the title). The story is unique in that Karloff is not a villain at all in this (his actions in aiding criminals are forced on him, except when he helps the fairly decent Cavanaugh). But it's not the only switch in the casting. The real villain in here (except for Baxter) is Samuel S. Hinds.Hinds normally was cast as a decent man - the father or grandfather of the hero or heroine. He is Katherine Hepburn's father in STAGEDOOR, who arranges her being hired by Adolphe Menjou so she can be "cured" of her acting bug. He is best recalled as the unfortunate father of Jimmy Stewart in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, who founds the savings and loan, battles Potter, but drops dead from a heart attack before Stewart can leave Bedford Falls. Occasionally he played rogues - he is the crooked judge in the film DESTRY RIDES AGAIN. But he goes really full blown here. Also, in the Bing Crosby film DOUBLE, OR NOTHING! Hinds is the sneaky father of a family of would-be heirs, out to sabotage the opposition by any underhanded trick they can come up with. In NIGHT KEY when the system is tested on the night it is installed it catches a small time crook. Hinds is upset by that: "Why can't you be a big time crook?", he shouts at the poor thief. It is an odd switch of the two actor's position from their normal roles. Karloff was such a good actor (as was Hinds) that their switch in characterizations is carried off well. Not a great film, NIGHT KEY is a very well made minor product: a filler for the movie house program besides the grade "A" productions, the short subjects, cartoons, travelogues, etc. As such it is worth viewing in order to see what Karloff might have ended up doing more of had he had less luck.

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.