Tonight's Movie: A Shriek in the Night (1933)

A SHRIEK IN THE NIGHT (1933) is a short pre-Code "B" mystery which stars Ginger Rogers and Lyle Talbot.

As the movie begins, a man falls to his death from an apartment building. Police Inspector Russell (Purnell Pratt) interviews the man's housekeeper Augusta (Lillian Harmer) and secretary, Pat Morgan (Rogers).

Pat is actually a newspaper reporter who was trying to learn more about her former employer's criminal connections. She and fellow reporter Ted Rand (Talbot) constantly try to outscoop and trick one another while also bantering and contemplating marriage.

Over the course of the film's 66 minutes more bodies pile up. Will Pat and Ted solve the murders before one of them ends up a victim?

This little film, written by Frances Hyland from a story by Kurt Kempler, is nothing special, but Ginger fans will find it worthwhile. The movie was initially recommended to me by Jeremy Arnold, who pointed out that the film helps show the emergence of Rogers' familiar snappy film persona. I enjoyed looking at the film from that perspective.

In fact, it's fascinating to realize that A SHRIEK IN THE NIGHT was one of 10 Rogers movies released in 1933, including GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933 (1933) and 42ND STREET (1933) for Warner Bros. and FLYING DOWN TO RIO (1933) for RKO. That year Ginger was also in films released by Fox, Universal, Paramount, and in the case of A SHRIEK IN THE NIGHT, Allied Pictures. By the time 1934 and THE GAY DIVORCEE rolled around, her film presence was fully formed.

Talbot himself was in nine pictures released in 1933; he and Rogers were definitely busy working actors in the early '30s. Their repartee is enjoyable, and I liked the fact that although they pull some fast tricks on one another, they also genuinely care for and support each other. This gives the characters a little more dimension than one might expect to find in a minor film such as this. Talbot's Ted does exhibit some of the chauvinism common in the era, but at the same time he clearly respects Pat and her ability to beat him reporting news.

There's a brief appearance by character actress favorite Louise Beavers (billed here as Louise Beaver). The cast also includes Harvey Clark, Arthur Hoyt, and Clarence Wilson.

Albert Ray directed, with cinematography by Tom Galligan and Harry Neumann.

A SHRIEK IN THE NIGHT fell into the public domain. It's available on DVD in multiple prints of so-so quality, and it may also sometimes be found streaming online.

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