FLY-BY-NIGHT

US, 1942, 74 minutes, Black-and-white.
Richard Carlson, Nancy Kelly, Albert Bassermann, Miles Mander, Edward Gargan, Adrian Morris, Martin Kosleck, Walter Kingsford, Cy Kendall, Nestor Pivar, Oscar O' Shea, Mary Gordon.
Directed by Robert Siodmak

This film was released during the first year of America’s involvement in World War II. However, it shows the influence of the war in Europe, especially with Nazi spies, secret weapons, fifth column, double agents… Were many small features to come along a similar line, including several Charlie Chan films.

The film is directed by German Robert Siodmak who built up a reputation for an ability to make films with tension. He had a mixed Hollywood career, one of his last films being the Cinerama Custer of the West.

The film opens in an asylum, a sinister escapee, eventually sinister managers of the asylum itself. An innocent young doctor is hijacked by the escapee, telling him a story about an invention, scientists, abductions, spies. The young doctor does his best and takes two a hotel where, while the doctor is on the phone, the escapee is murdered. The police suspect him.

The doctors played genially by Richard Carlson. His leading lady is Nancy Kelly, an unwilling collaborator with him in his escapes, pursuits by the police – turning the film from an espionage murder story into a variation of the American screwball comedy, the unwilling couple, their clashes, having to cover for each other, having to go through a pretend marriage service (certainly a staple of screwball comedies).

However, the spy story then becomes further involved, scientists, formulas, double agents, the asylum and its management, police who could be descendants from the Keystone cops (including the inevitable Edward Gargan), dangers, confrontations, the doctor using his wits, everything solved – except the wedding, but, inevitably, the bride has second thoughts and gives her real consent.