Escape by Night

For all those interested this title is available on DVD..though it doesn't say it in the IMDb home page for the picture. It is available on the Platnium disc release called "Mobster Movies". Also included on the disc is Gangster's Boy (1938) starring Jackie Cooper, Gang Bullets (1938) starring Anne Nagel and Morgan Wallace, also The Racketeer (1930) starring Carol Lombard and RObert Armstrong. I love these cheap four or more movie disc of films of yesteryear. If you can find it and it is only a few bucks, pick it up, especially if you collect the classics of the golden era. Platnium disc is also famous for their other classic film collections. Including Westerns, classic TV, film noir, drama and comedies.

When the film begins, a poor sap, Nick (William Hall) accidentally gets involved with a gang of crooks and folks think he's one of them. Soon he and the Regan gang are on the lam and they come up with a great idea---to hide out at a humble farm in the country. There something unusual happens...the crooks all come to love the simple country life and want to give up their wicked ways. Plus Nick and Jo (Steffi Duna) find love with two locals. The problem is that the leader of the gang, Capper Regan (Dean Jagger) isn't about to let any of them just retire.

This is a bad film in some ways. Steffi Duna can barely speak English and practically needed subtitles. Additionally, the finale is a bit silly. But, most importantly, I was able to set all that aside and enjoy the picture even if it was just a cheap B. Not bad overall and rather fun.

Not wanting to see a dame manhandled, tough Pennsylvania miner William Hall (as Nicholas "Nick" Allen) assists street-walking Steffi Duna (as Josephine "Jo" Elliott) during a disagreement with gangsters. A resulting ruckus leaves Mr. Hall taking both Ms. Duna and a slug to the shoulder. Nursing his wound gets Hall involved with Duna's associates, a crime gang led by Dean Jagger (as James "Capper" Regan). Unluckily, they are "WANTED" for a recent murder. So, Hall is chased along with Mr. Jagger, Ward Bond (as Peter "Spudsy" Baker) and Murray Alper (as Horace "Red" Graham)...

The gang, with Hall providing some cover, takes refuge at what turns out to be an idyllic farm. They hide out there, with kindly blind Charles Waldron (as Pop Adams) and "Bill", his resourceful German Sheppard. The dog catches rabbits for the gang to eat, after thanking God. Hall finds romance with Mr. Waldron's pretty daughter Anne Nagel (as Linda). They enjoy sunbathing together. Living on the farm makes most of the criminal gang good. They reform into nice citizens. They resist a potential lucrative return to former criminal ways. But will the police understand, and forgive past sins?

**** Escape by Night (9/1/37) Hamilton MacFadden ~ William Hall, Anne Nagel, Dean Jagger, Steffi Duna

I want to be as kind as I possibly can with this film, as it had some elements I enjoyed. At the same time I cannot deny that it is just barely passable as entertainment. A definite low grade film, with a brisk pace, and a script that at times feels like it was being written while they were filming. Particularily towards the end, with its ridiculous jailbreak. The movies most interesting idea was having the gangsters (who are hiding out at a farm owned by an unsuspecting father and his daughter) fall in love with country life, which causes them to give up on crime. An unlikely scenario, but makes for an interesting storyline.

In the bleak light of 1937, this little gem was a complete Ray of Sunshine. All the hooks, all the cliches about "innate goodness" of man are used here and work marvelously.