Crime by Night

Larry Borden hires private investigator Sam Campbell (Jerome Cowan) and his secretary Robbie Vance (Jane Wyman). He's been in a conflict with his father-in-law Harvey Carr over his family. He is accused of murdering Harvey but he insists on his innocence.

I don't know anything about the novel. I don't know if there is anything else done with Sam Campbell. Wyman is a fun actress and this could have a fine detective duo franchise. I like her snarky comments. They could use more of their banter. Wyman should have more screen time. The movie works best with the two of them together.

Jane Wyman is given top billing on screen but she sits out most of the movie off screen. It's left up to her co-star Jerome Cowan to carry the load. He has a certain oily/sleazy charm but I wouldn't like to have my life or freedom depend on his detective abilities. It was amusing to observe the way he did anything he felt appropriate to help his client. No matter the legality of it. Hiding witnesses, disturbing evidence at a crime scene, and even downright stealing evidence right from the Sheriff's office.

This movie must be noted for having one of the bloodiest crime scenes in a pre-1960's film. It's a wonder the censors passed it.

I'm surprised by the fairly good reviews this B mystery has received by several IMDb reviewers, having found the movie thoroughly implausible. Character actor Jerome Cowan has a rare starring role as a ladies man detective (despite being well into middle-age and not particularly handsome) who is trying to prove that a maimed retired concert pianist did not kill his belligerent ex-father-in-law. Jane Wyman receives top billing as Cowan's gal Friday and while she starts out the movie in what appears to be a starring role, disappears for much of the middle of it. She is much missed as Cowan and company struggle to hold one's interest in this rather dull and improbable tale.

Not surprised to learn this one sat on the shelf at Warner Bros. for over a year. There's a horribly edited scene of Cowan and Faye Emerson speaking seated in a car with two very rough jumps that is as bad a continuity as any I've seen in a major studio's film from the period.

One has to give supporting actor Fred Kelsey (as Dad Martin) props though for not breaking character as a persistent fly keeps flying around and landing on his arm during one conversation scene with Cowan (why Kelsey has to ignore the fly to keep in character is explained at the denouement.) This movie is only 72 minutes long but it really drags. Jane Wyman is as perky and delightful as she always is in these early "sassy girl" roles but this time her hard work can't make this one ultimately a success.

"Crime by Night" is a lively 1944 film starring Jerome Cowan, Jane Wyman and Faye Emerson.

Cowan plays a private eye trying to help a man wrongly accused of murder. It ends up being a lot more complicated than originally thought. Jane Wyman is his attractive secretary, and Emerson plays a talent representative. Eleanor Parker has a small role as the daughter of the murder victim.

This is an enjoyable B movie that moves fast; Cowan is slick and Wyman looks great and gives a vivacious performance. Cowan was rarely given an opportunity at leads. He makes the most of this one. A good B movie made during World War II.

Larry Borden's career as a concert pianist ended when a dispute with wealthy father-in-law Harvey Carr ended up with his hand chopped by an ax. Carr is found dead from a blow by an ax, and Larry is sure to be the prime suspect. He hires New York detective Sam Campbell and his secretary-partner Robbie Vance. Harvey's daughter and Larry's ex-wife, Irene, also turn up, along with another dead body, the estate's handyman.

Irene is now engaged to Paul Goff, a singer, who has an agent, Ann Marlow. A theory develops that Carr's death involved a wartime spy ring and a chemical plant he owned, and Goff is implicated. Goff is the next murder victim, though. Sam and Robbie eventually deduce that Ann is the actual spy. They solve the case and save Larry, freeing them to return to New York.

Fast-paced mystery that is fairly entertaining and features an interesting protagonist in Jerome Cowan, a quick-talking and sleazy detective. Jane Wyman plays his assistant. The mystery can be complicated, and you have to really pay attention to the conversations.