''Night Club Scandal'' is a 1937 American

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre. ...

directed by

Ralph Murphy Ralph Murphy (May 1, 1895 – February 10, 1967) was an American film and television director. Born in Rockville, Connecticut, Murphy was active in films from 1931 through 1962, with some work in television. From 1941 to 1944 he was married to G ...

and written by

Lillie Hayward Lillie Hayward (born Lillian Olenda Auen, September 12, 1891 – June 29, 1977) was an American screenwriter whose Hollywood career began during the silent era and continued well into the age of television. She wrote for more than 70 films ...

, based on a play by Daniel Nathan Rubin. The film stars

John Barrymore John Barrymore (born John Sidney Blyth; February 14 or 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an American actor on stage, screen, and radio. A member of the Drew and Barrymore theatrical families, he initially tried to avoid the stage, and briefly a ...

Lynne Overman Lynne Overman (September 19, 1887 – February 19, 1943) was an American actor. In films he often played a sidekick. Early life and career Born in Maryville, Missouri,Aaker, Everett (2013). George Raft: The Films'. Jefferson, NC: McFarland ...

, Louise Campbell,

Charles Bickford Charles Ambrose Bickford (January 1, 1891 – November 9, 1967) was an American actor known for supporting roles. He was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for '' The Song of Bernadette'' (1943), '' The Fa ...

Harvey Stephens Harvey Stephens (August 21, 1901 – December 22, 1986) was an American actor, known initially for his performances in Broadway productions, and thereafter for his work in film and on television. He was most active in film beginning in the 193 ...

J. Carrol Naish Joseph Patrick Carrol Naish (January 21, 1896 – January 24, 1973) was an American actor. He appeared in over 200 films during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He became a dialect specialist, and was called upon to play character roles of many na ...

and

Evelyn Brent Evelyn Brent (born Mary Elizabeth Riggs; October 20, 1895 – June 4, 1975) was an American film and stage actress. Early life Brent was born in Tampa, Florida and known as "Betty." When she was 10 years old, her mother Eleanor ( Warner) die ...

. It was released on November 11, 1937 by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

Plot

After murdering his unfaithful wife in his apartment, Dr. Ernest Tindal leaves before his wife's lover Frank discovers the body. Frank panics and flees, leaving his fingerprints. He is arrested, convicted and condemned to die. A newspaper reporter, Kirk, and a police captain, McKinley, continue to investigate. Kirk becomes attracted to Vera, the suspect's sister. They successfully prove that Frank was falsely accused while Tindal conspires with gangsters Jack and Julia Reed, hoping to escape implication in the crime. Tindal shoots Jack but is taken into custody by McKinley.

Cast

as Dr. Ernest Tindal *

as Russell Kirk * Louise Campbell as Vera Marlin *

as Det. Capt. McKinley *

as Frank Marlin *

as Jack Reed *

as Julia Reed * Elizabeth Patterson as Mrs. Elvira Ward *

Cecil Cunningham Edna Cecil Cunningham (August 2, 1888 – April 17, 1959) was an American film and stage actress, singer, and comedienne. Early years A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Cunningham was one of at least six children born to Sarah Hunter and Patric ...

as Mrs. Alvin *Barlowe Borland as Dr. Sully * John Sheehan as Duffy *George Guhl as Broun *Frank O'Connor as Alcott *Leonard Willey as Dr. Goodman *George Offerman Jr. as Messenger Boy *

Virginia Vale Virginia Vale (born Dorothy Howe; May 20, 1920 – September 14, 2006) was an American film actress. She starred in a number of B-movie westerns but took a variety of other roles as well, notably in '' Blonde Comet'' (1941), in which she pl ...

as Marsh's Maid *Robert Brister as District Attorney *

Richard Cramer Richard Earl Cramer (July 3, 1889 – August 9, 1960) was an American actor in films from the late 1920s to the early 1950s. Cramer specialized in villainous roles in many low-budget westerns, but is today best remembered for his several app ...

as Prison Guard * John Hamilton as Governor

Reception

In a contemporary review for ''The New York Times'', critic

Bosley Crowther Francis Bosley Crowther Jr. (July 13, 1905 – March 7, 1981) was an American journalist, writer, and film critic for ''The New York Times'' for 27 years. His work helped shape the careers of many actors, directors and screenwriters, though some ...

called ''Night Club Scandal'' a "workmanlike and reasonably exciting melodrama" and wrote:

The screen's finest Westphalian is still being purveyed by John Barrymore ... The role is merely a quoditian chore for John, but he brings it to a Barrymore-ish dignity, authority and presence which add immeasurably to its dramatic effectiveness. Though not especially "ambitious" in a productional sense, the film itself—largely in consequence—may be counted among the more tolerable of recent corpse operas.

References

External links

* 1937 films American thriller films 1930s thriller films Paramount Pictures films Films directed by Ralph Murphy American black-and-white films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films English-language thriller films {{1930s-thriller-film-stub