Escape by Night

This little show barely qualifies as even a "B" picture, but I found it quite enjoyable, and parts of it certainly rose above the mundane. It was fun to see William Hall in a rare leading role, as well as pretty Anne Nagel who looked like one of the Young sisters. Charles Waldron (Gen. Sternwood in The Big Sleep) has a role as a blind man who "sees" more than many of the sighted characters, and his cultured voice is always a pleasure to hear. Added to that you have good if predictable character roles for Ward Bond, Murray Alper and the seldom-seen Stefi Duna, with a fine turn by Dean Jagger (pre-bald days) as a really mean gangster. Since it's only a hair longer than one hour, give it a try...if you're not expecting a classic, you might very well enjoy yourself.

This uplifting crime-drama, from the early years of Republic Pictures before the studio became an assembly-line, stars usual second-banana and character actor William Hall (a leading man in the Robert Kellard vein) as a former coal-miner who has come to the big city and gets in the way of two rival gangs fighting over a girl, and then finds himself associated with one of the gangs unintentionally. That gang hides out in a rural area (the leader of the gang, Dean Jagger, is not with them...this is just the colorful, "loveable" members of the gang!), where they meet a rural family and a small-time businessman and a dog, all of whom transform the minor criminals and cause them to finally stand up to the gang boss. Ah, there's nothing like those criminals with a heart of gold one finds in Damon Runyon or in 1930's movies. If you can accept the Hallmark Channel premise of this b-programmer, it's actually quite entertaining and fast moving, and has some nice supporting acting from the likes of Ward Bond (as the "cook" of the gang). "Bill" the dog gets a lot of screen time, and he's a good performer in the Rin Tin Tin Jr. vein who fights for the honor of the reformed gang moll with the Hungarian accent, played by Steffi Duna, who seems a lot more comfortable in the "good girl" than in the "tough girl" role. No great analysis is needed of a film such as this. It's good rainy-day entertainment with a positive, uplifting message, but still a crime film. Short of a Touched By An Angel or Highway To Heaven episode, one doesn't see this combination very often nowadays. Worth searching out for b-movie fanatics--others can wait.

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.

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.