A NIGHT FOR CRIME

US, 1943, 68 minutes, Black and white.
Glenda Farrell, Lyle Talbot, Ralph Sanford, Lina Basquette, Donald Kirke.
Directed by Alexis Thurn Taxis.

A slight film for its time, a supporting feature during World War II noting the situation in Los Angeles especially with the blackout.

The film is a pleasant star vehicle for Glenda Farrell, character actress at Warner Brothers during the 1930s and the star of the series, Torchy Blaine. Lyle Talbot is a standby stalwart for hero.

During the blackout, there is a scream and a murder, with Susan Cooper, Farrell, a newspaper reporter and solver of mysteries, with Talbot, advertising man and promotions to a Hollywood studio. A starlet has been killed.

The film follows the investigation of the crime, the chief of police being sensible and extraordinarily tolerant of his assistant, Hoffman (Ralph Sanford) who would have to be one of the dumbest and intrusive police officers, drawing instant conclusions from lack of evidence!

In the meantime, the head of the studio finds that his star has disappeared and he has invested a lot of money in a production. He then disappears and brings back footage from allegedly older films with his star. Susan and Powell look at the footage with Susan recognising Reno and everybody making their way there.

There are other murders and attempted killing of both Susan and Joe. The only real possible suspect is the film star’s chauffeur – and he is. And, the screenplay pulls the old trick at the end of the star having a mad twin sister. And Susan solves the case.