IMDb RATING
6.3/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
The inventor of a new top-of-the-line burglar alarm system is kidnapped by a gang in order to get him to help them commit robberies.The inventor of a new top-of-the-line burglar alarm system is kidnapped by a gang in order to get him to help them commit robberies.The inventor of a new top-of-the-line burglar alarm system is kidnapped by a gang in order to get him to help them commit robberies.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
Warren Hull
- Jim Travers
- (as J. Warren Hull)
Samuel S. Hinds
- Stephen Ranger
- (as Samuel Hinds)
Roy Barcroft
- Alarm Technician
- (uncredited)
Nina Campana
- Mrs. Spinelli
- (uncredited)
Jack Cheatham
- Henchman
- (uncredited)
George Cleveland
- Sam Adams - Company Engineer
- (uncredited)
Hal Cooke
- Cafe Manager
- (uncredited)
Ralph Dunn
- ABC Delivery Garageman-Thug
- (uncredited)
Ruth Fallows
- Waitress
- (uncredited)
Antonio Filauri
- Alarm Technician
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe movie was made because although the new owners of Universal Studios in 1936 were convinced that the horror genre was commercially dead, they inherited a contract stipulating Boris Karloff's participation in one more film. Carl Laemmle Jr. had signed him to this contract after the success of Frankenstein (1931), so, not knowing what other genre to put him in, they commissioned a story that would give him a suitable role but stipulated it would not be a horror film.
- ConnectionsFeatured in 100 Years of Horror: Boris Karloff (1996)
Featured review
Good Ole Boris!
Boris Karloff seemingly can make a small film all the bigger with his fine performance. Such is the case with this lesser known Karloff film...Night Key. Though the film is in no way a horror picture, it does have some science fiction elements. The story tells about a Mr. Mallory..an aged man who has spent his life inventing a night key alarm system only to have it stolen from him by his former business partner and his own lawyer. Karloff is in fine fettle as the inventor, and even seems like a live Gepetto both in look and manner. The film is typical for its day.....not a very imaginative script nor great quality character acting, although Hobart Cavanaugh does a nice job as a petty hood helping Karloff get back at his enemies. What makes it stand out is the understated acting of Karloff...a role which he plays for sympathy and compassion. Not a big film but a little one...still a good one to see. The film is not on video so you may have to try and find it on video transfers from 16mm prints.
helpful•180
- BaronBl00d
- Jun 19, 2000
- How long is Night Key?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 8 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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