A Scream in the Dark

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Robert Lowery and Marie McDonald in A Scream in the Dark (1943)

Newspaper reporter turned detective Mike, along with his partner Eddie Tough (who used to be his photographer on the paper), and Mike's girlfriend Joan go after some business. She's the daug... Read allNewspaper reporter turned detective Mike, along with his partner Eddie Tough (who used to be his photographer on the paper), and Mike's girlfriend Joan go after some business. She's the daughter of the local police chief, so she can send him clients, is the idea.. The first case ... Read allNewspaper reporter turned detective Mike, along with his partner Eddie Tough (who used to be his photographer on the paper), and Mike's girlfriend Joan go after some business. She's the daughter of the local police chief, so she can send him clients, is the idea.. The first case he gets is a domestic investigation. Leo Stark's wife, Muriel has left him for another guy... Read all

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IMDb RATING

5.8/10

140

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Robert Lowery

Mike Brooker

Marie McDonald

Joan Allen

Edward Brophy

Eddie Tough
(as Edward S. Brophy)

Elizabeth Russell

Muriel

Hobart Cavanaugh

Leo Stark

Wally Vernon

Klousky

Jack La Rue

Det. Lt. Cross

Frank Fenton

Sam 'Benny' Lackey

Linda Brent

Stella

William Haade

Gerald Messenger

Arthur Loft

Norton

Kitty McHugh

Maisie

Horace B. Carpenter

Client
(uncredited)

George Chandler

Reporter at Morgue
(uncredited)

William B. Davidson

Landlord
(uncredited)

Henri DeSoto

Headwaiter
(uncredited)

Ethyl May Halls

Landlady at the Brooklyn Apartments
(uncredited)

John Ince

Passerby
(uncredited)

Director
- George Sherman
Writers
All cast & crew
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User reviews10

5.8140

Featured reviews

SkippyDevereaux

Good film from a low budget studio

A very good film from Republic Studios. This is a short, but very entertaining film. I liked this one,and even though it is a low budget, you would never know it from the look of it. The cinematography is clear and the acting is quite good for this type of picture. Robert Lowery and Edward Brophy are quite a pair and very good together. Not bad for a "B" picture. Too bad that more of these unknown "little" films are not put out on DVD, as I would gladly buy them.I know that it is the type film that would never win an Academy Award, but still is very entertaining, if you like mysteries, or mysteries with a tinge of comedy from the 1940's !!

6richardchatten

Muriel

The corpses pile up in this inconsequential comedy-thriller whose gallows humour reflects the title of the novel by Jerome Odlum on which it's based called 'The Morgue is Always Open'.

The enormous sets - presumably from a bigger production - are glossily lit to create a veneer of opulence. Against such a backdrop, the women are all glamorously big-haired and big-suited, including Elizabeth Russell (best remembered for her spectral presence in several Val Lewton films), who here plays the mysterious Muriel around whom the plot revolves.

The name of her character may evoke early Resnais but the plot is pure late Resnais, with a noisy music score constantly reminding us how hilarious it all is.

6russjones-80887

Too many husbands

A new Private Investigator Mike Brooker and his partner Eddie Tough are hired to gather evidence that a wife is having an affair. After finding the wife a new client claims that he is also married to the same woman. Soon the man ends up murdered.

Relatively entertaining B film which, despite the subject matter, is played for laughs. It veers towards confusing at times but is saved by the performances of its stars, Robert Lowery and Edward Brophy. At a running time of an hour it will pass time.

jknoppow-1

A good and enjoyable flick.

This detective mystery film is an actioner; it moves right along without a single letdown. With the exception of the always wooden Robert Lowery, the cast is really excellent, and for us guys, Marie McDonald is very easy on the eyes. Edward Brophy does his usual fine job as the side-kick, Elizabeth Russell was one of the femme-fatale greats, and Jack LaRue, as the good guy cop, is playing out of type, but does as fine a job being heroic as he does being a slime-ball. Despite the body count, the film is also light hearted without being sappy, and that's more than one should ask of an el cheapo Republic film.

6blanche-2

fast-moving film from Poverty Row

"A Scream in the Dark" is a fun little film from 1943, starring the very attractive Robert Lowery, Marie McDonald, and Edward Brophy.

Mike (Lowery) is a newspaper reporter who sets up a detective business with a former photographer on the newspaper (Brophy). Their first case - and it turns out, their second and their third case - concerns a missing wife.

The bodies pile up. This is a B movie that is quite well done, very lively, and entertaining.