One Dangerous Night

Plot

Former jewel thief and reformed detective Michael Lanyard (Warren William), or the Lone Wolf, is driving to a party with his butler Jamison (Eric Blore). Halfway through the journey, they come across Eve Andrews (Marguerite Chapman), who requests that they bring her to Harry Cooper (Gerald Mohr)'s residence. Meanwhile, Cooper, an unprofessed criminal, is carrying out a scheme to loot the jewelry of select wealthy persons — namely, Jane Merrick (Mona Barrie), Sonia Budenny (Tala Birell) and Andrews. Cooper is killed before he can finish his plans by an unknown assailant. Lanyard, who happens to be at the scene, is pinpointed by the suspicious police as the perpetrator. He escapes but is found by magazine writer Sidney Shaw (Warren Ashe), who agrees not to rat Lanyard out in exchange for a scoop.

The Lone Wolf interrogates the women at the murder scene but is unable to find a lead. He is then captured by two criminals working under Arthur (Louis Jean Heydt), Cooper's right-hand man. Lanyard breaks free and flees, reuniting with Jamison and Shaw. The trio sneak into Cooper's house and decide to tail Arthur, who is leaving for the airport. The criminal turns out to be meeting a female teen named Patricia Blake (Margaret Hayes). Unaware of Cooper's death, she becomes distressed when the news is broken to her.

Arthur and Blake later leave for a hotel. In the middle of his confidence trick on Blake, Arthur is halted by Lanyard, Jamison, and Shaw, who rush into the hotel room. A heated fight ensues, with Arthur managing to escape. Blake injures herself and is quickly attended to by Shaw. When she admits her love for Cooper, Shaw seethes in infuriation. Lanyard realizes that Blake is Shaw's spouse and by piecing two-and-two together, he concludes that Shaw was Cooper's killer. The police arrive in time to arrest the jealous lover and the Lone Wolf is exonerated from all charges.

Production

While still a work-in-progress, the film was referred to as The Lone Wolf Goes to a Party. The film marked American actor Warren William's seventh and second-to-last portrayal of the Lone Wolf. It was the film debut of Ann Savage, who played Vivian, an acquaintance of the Lone Wolf's. One Dangerous Night was directed by Michael Gordon. The script was written by Donald Davis, based on Arnold Phillips and Max Nosseck's story. L. W. O'Connell was signed on as cinematographer, while David Chatkin was in charge of producing for Columbia Pictures. Viola Lawrence was editor and M. W. Stoloff directed the film's music. The interior decorator was George Montgomery and the art directors were Lionel Banks and Robert Peterson. Principal photography officially commenced on September 10, 1942, and ended on September 29, 1942.

Release

The film was released in the United States on January 22, 1943. The Blockbuster Guide to Movies and Videos (1995) described the film as "modest". In their 2010 book Savage Detours: The Life and Work of Ann Savage, Lisa Morton and Kent Adamson wrote that One Dangerous Night is largely "unremarkable" but "nonetheless entertaining", comparing it with After Midnight with Boston Blackie (1943).