mark.waltz ...For Boris Karloff goes out of his way to make his point to his former rival who after many years has defrauded him once again, all because of their love of the same woman and Hinds' resentment because Karloff married her and had a beautiful daughter (Jean Rogers) with him. Now widowed, Karloff has perfected an alarm system which Hinds buys, but refuses to install, basically financially destroying Karloff. Hinds isn't too pleased when Karloff's "Night Key" prevents the alarm from going off in a clock shop at the right time (and the security guards are furious when all the clock's cuckoos go off at the same time!) then repeats the same thing in an umbrella shop. But gangster Alan Baxter wants to get his hands on the night key and with the help of the lovable thief Hobart Cavanaugh, Karloff tries to stop Baxter from using his invention for criminal intentions. Warren Hull is the moral security guard working for Hinds who realizes that Karloff has been defrauded and works overtime to expose his boss and win over Karloff's pretty daughter.A fun, fast-moving crime drama with only the slightest bit of science fiction thrown in, "Night Key" is one of those movies with some preposterous ideas that in an alternate universe would seem realistic. Cavanaugh adds some humor to his petty crook, and his atonement after getting Karloff unintentionally involved with Baxter is truly touching. Baxter, reminding me of that film noir villain Dan Duryea, is unique in the gangster film universe as he seems much younger than the usual film gangster. Hinds' vengeful businessman is of course not likable but he has a chance to redeem himself too once he finally opens his eyes to what he has become. Rogers is lovely, feisty and a perfect heroine here. Karloff is a bit more touching here with his almost blindness giving a vulnerability to him that has you rooting for him even when he's actually breaking the law.

Spikeopath Night Key is directed by Lloyd Corrigan and adapted to screenplay by Jack Moffitt & Tristam Tupper from a story by William A. Pierce. It stars Boris Karloff, Jean Rogers, Warren Hull and Samuel S. Hinds. Music is by Louis Forbes and cinematography by George Robinson. Plot sees Karloff as aging inventor David Mallory, who once again finds himself cheated by security business boss Stephen Ranger (Hinds). With his eyesight failing and a daughter (Rogers) he wants to set up before he passes on, Mallory decides to teach the scheming Ranger a lesson. However, the criminal element headed by The Kid (Alan Baxter) have designs on using Mallory and his "Night Key" device for their own ill gotten gains.Well Louis! We are in.Out of Universal Pictures, Night Key was knocked out in under a month and budgeted, unsurprisingly, on the cheap. Yet the film belies these matters to be a good old fashioned yarn for entertainment. Melodrama mixes with a touch of sci-fi as the story unfolds as an interesting character piece, the veins of which are mostly pumped by an honest versus dishonest theme. Within there's a burgeoning romance etched in to the narrative, but this is handled well by the director as it aids the flow and reason of plotting, while the odd bit of action here and there stops the film from being too staid. The effects from John P. Fulton, too, are good fun and leave a favourable mark late in the story.Picture gets most of its strength from Karloff's performance. An undervalued talent at the best of times, Night Key gives viewers the chance to see just what he could do away from the horror iconography that defined his career. Here as the sombre and fragile David Mallory, Karloff isn't just looking the part because of make-up, he is able to match his body to the aged state of the character, simultaneously garnering great empathy from the viewers. It's a character, courtesy of performance, that firmly has us rooting for against the baddies. Around Karloff are effective turns from Rogers (bright), Hinds (weasel like), Hobart Cavanaugh (fun as the comedy side-kick, Petty Louis) and Ward Bond, who as henchman thug is an imposing presence.It's all very daft and goes where we expect, and want, it to go, but with Karloff leading the way this is a comfortably recommended time filler. 7/10

Woodyanders Kindly and brilliant inventor David Mallory (a fine and sympathetic portrayal by Boris Karloff) invents a new security system. Mallory gets abducted by a gang of nefarious burglars who force the old guy to assist them with a series of robberies. Directed with real flair by Lloyd Corrigan, with a nonstop brisk pace, colorful characters, crisp black and white cinematography by George Robinson (the artful use of fades and dissolves is especially impressive), a nice sense of playful humor, snappy dialogue, a tight and engrossing script by Jack Moffitt, a lighthearted tone, a robust score, and a lively and exciting climax, this movie overall sizes up as a highly entertaining item. Moreover, it's a total treat to see Karloff portray a rare decent and amiable good guy part: With his failing eyesight and gentle manner, David Mallory makes for a very appealing protagonist. The fetching Jean Rogers adds charm and spark as Mallory's perky daughter Joan, Alan Baxter does well as ruthless gang leader John Baron, Hobart Cavanaugh almost steals the whole show with his amusing turn as wormy low-life small-time crook Petty Louie, and Ward Bond is suitably menacing as hulking strong-arm thug Fingers. A fun flick.

MARIO GAUCI Initially, I had scoffed at this title's inclusion in Universal's "The Boris Karloff Collection" Set - but it turned out to be a 'B' film with plenty of interest: a fast-moving crime drama which leaves room for characterization, featuring a very good atypical performance by Karloff (playing an inventor far older than his current age).The film (which demonstrates a novel obsession with gadgetry) could easily have seen the star turned into a criminal mastermind or another mad scientist-type - but he remains a victim, a pawn in the hands of unscrupulous manufacturer Samuel S. Hinds and baby-faced racketeer Alan Baxter. Romantic leads Jean Rogers and Warren Hull are actually quite appealing and the supporting cast includes Edwin Maxwell as Karloff's double-crossing lawyer, Ward Bond as one of Baxter's henchman and Hobart Cavanaugh - who actually steals the film - as a small-time hood who finds himself an unlikely partner to Karloff (his character, nicknamed "Petty Louie", has a penchant for slang with "Are we in?" and "It's in the bag!" as his favorite phrases).