Night Key is a 1937 American science fiction crime film starring Boris Karloff and released by Universal Pictures.[1][2]

Night Key
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLloyd Corrigan
Screenplay by
  • Tristram Tupper
  • John C. Moffitt
Story byWilliam Pierce
Produced byRobert Pressnel
Starring
CinematographyGeorge Robinson
John P. Fulton
Edited byOtis Garrett
Music byLouis Forbes
Production
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Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release dates
  • April 18, 1937 (1937-04-18) (New York City)[1]
  • May 2, 1937 (1937-05-02) (U.S.)[2]
  • August 16, 1937 (1937-08-16) (Los Angeles)[1]
Running time
68 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$192,000+[1][2]

Plot

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The inventor of a burglar alarm attempts to get back at the man who stole the profits to his invention (Hinds) before he goes blind. The device is then subverted by gangsters who apply pressure to the inventor and use his device to facilitate burglaries.

Cast

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Production

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Filming began on January 18, 1937, with a budget of $175,000. Filming ended on either February 16 or February 20, 6 days over schedule and $17,000 over budget.[1][2]

This was the last film in which Boris Karloff was billed by only his last name, a policy that Universal had begun with The Old Dark House in 1932 and had continued for eight films across six years during the height of Karloff's career.

Home video release

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This film, along with Tower of London, The Climax, The Strange Door and The Black Castle, was released on DVD in 2006 by Universal Studios as part of The Boris Karloff Collection.

This DVD set contains the rerelease version of this film from Realart Pictures, Inc. It also contains the rerelease version of the theatrical trailer

The packaging for this DVD set erroneously indicates that this film has a running time of 78 minutes.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Stephen Jacobs, Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster, Tomahawk Press, 2011 pp. 209-212
  2. ^ a b c d e Tom Weaver, Michael Brunas and John Brunas, Universal Horrors: The Studio's Classic Films, 1931-46 Second Edition, McFarland, 2007 pp. 170-175
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