London by Night

London by Night (1937) was a B movie, set in London (read: back lot of MGM) and starring George Murphy, Virginia Field, Rita Johnson, Leo G. Carroll, George Zucco, Montagu Love, and Corky. This film is actually based on a play that was never produced.

Murphy plays Michel Denis, a newspaperman in London who, in the morning, is leaving for a vacation in Paris. He and his buddy, a dog named Jones, decide to stay in London, however, to help solve a series of murders by a man carrying an umbrella.

Along the way, he meets a pretty socialite (Johnson), who lives in a house that includes her father (Zucco) and a butler (Carroll).

The atmosphere is captured with lots of fog and some dreadful Cockney, the worst offender being the usually likable Virginia Field. She overdid her role as a barmaid big time.

George Murphy was an actor of terrific charm, and he brings it on here. The dog who plays his dog, Corky, is terrific.

Pleasant.

I had never heard of this film or George Murphy my main reason for watching it was George Zucco and I was not disappointed. The mystery kept me entertained the cast were excellent would certainly recommend it to fans of thirties mystery films.

Here is a film that brought waves of nostalgia to an old movie buff who usually never forgets a film but often cannot remember the titles of something I have not seen in 50 years. I viewed it by chance on TCM and as soon as I saw the Umbrella Man I knew it was an old favorite from childhood. I am constantly drawn to any film about London and this was no exception. It contains much of the usual elements of period London, the constant fog, Big Ben, elegant town house, eerie Thames River, bumbling police, pub, two lovely ladies and a semi-comical newspaper man protagonist. However it was the bone-chilling Umbrella Man that made the indelible imprint on my young mind years ago. Now the film seems silly and outdated and not the least bit scary, oh but what fun to see again.

The film contained credible performances with a somewhat predictable plot. With a little bit of rewriting and a skilled director I think this film would be a great candidate for a serious remake.

A murder occurs in a London night. A mystery man with an umbrella is seen running away. Reporter Michael Denis is always accompanied by his loyal dog Jones. Socialite Patricia Herrick joins him in his investigation along with Scotland Yard Inspector Jefferson.

The umbrella is a cute prop until it's not. It becomes more or less a gimmick. He is literally using the umbrella to hide behind even when he's indoors. It starts like a great concept, but it becomes a bit ridiculous. I like Michael's start with his dog. I like his connection with Patricia although they need more time together. They need the time to do more banter. I did get invested in the murder mystery even if it's only a flawed little film.

There's not much to this. A reporter is detained from a trip to Paris due to a series of murders he initially has not interest in. He gets hooked up with a rich girl who likes adventure and this almost gets her killed. The murderer runs around with an umbrella which identifies him but also keeps him from being apprehended (it is foggy, after all, and everyone seems to have the same umbrella). There are some pretty good performances by Leo G. Carroll and George Zucco. George Murphy pulls things off pretty well, but the whole plot is too transparent. There is also an interesting romantic development between the two leads. The ending leaves a bit to be desired, but it does have some plausibility. Nevertheless, the film is interesting, atmospheric in places, but pretty unremarkable.