Bardlerx Strictly average movie

Greenes Please don't spend money on this.

Phonearl Good start, but then it gets ruined

Roy Hart If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

MartinHafer A divorced man is nearly killed after he discovers the body of his ex- father-in-law. So, he seeks help from a know-it-all detective, Sam Campbell (Jerome Cowan) and he naturally discovers that there is a heck of a lot more to the story than meets the eye."Crime By Night" is an enjoyable B-movie, but it's also one that most film buffs could predict. After all, when the detective has a girl sidekick (Jane Wyman), you KNOW she'll be snappy-talking and a bit daffy. When it's set during the WWII era, the solution to the crime will involve Nazis. And, the private detective will be a heck of a lot smarter than the cops. It's all formula...and offers no surprises but is pleasant viewing if you don't mind this.

krdement High quality production and cast for this B-grade movie make for a very entertaining film. Jerome Cowan is really the star. Accustomed to his portrayals of cads and white collar criminals, I really enjoyed seeing him in the lead and on the right side of the law. That doesn't mean his hat is snow white. He plays a similar character to his brief role as Sam Spade's doomed partner, Miles Archer, in The Maltese Falcon. He is full of testosterone, self-confidence and an almost smarmy charm.Jane Wyman in her early roles is pretty and feisty, as in this movie. It is also interesting to see a very young Eleanor Parker on her way up the ladder.The dialog is crisp and full of 30's detective story expressions. It is delivered well by all cast members and moves the film along at a nice clip. The plot never drags. Sit back and enjoy this low budget gem.

bkoganbing Private Eye Sam Campbell is hired by the estranged husband of a woman whose father he's accused of killing. With a few good plot twists, he uncovers the real murderer and the reason behind that and two other subsequent killings.Don't pass up an opportunity to see character actor Jerome Cowan for once in the lead. His most noted role in film was also a detective as Sam Spade's luckless partner Miles Archer in the Maltese Falcon. In that film he was a lady's man whose hormones got him killed. Here he's quite the ladies man as well, but his mind as it turns out is on business first.Cowan's main squeeze in this film is Jane Wyman. She played a lot of molls before she got real roles of substance later in the decade, culminating with that Oscar for Johnny Belinda. It's interesting to see her in these roles sometimes though.Of the supporting cast the biggest kudos go to Cy Kendall who was the hapless sheriff. It's a running truism in Hollywood that in these detective stories, the police always get shown up by the private eye. Sometimes the cops are smart, but the private eye is smarter and sometimes they're downright dumb. It's the latter here.This film is an enjoyable product from Warner's B film unit.

ultfan67 Crime By Night is a film that I discovered on TCM a couple of years ago. Although Jane Wyman receives top billing, Jerome Cowan (the ill fated Miles Archer from The Maltese Falcon) carries the film. As another poster commented, the film has some great dialogue. In addition to his interplay with Jane Wyman's character (Robbie, aka Candy Lamb), I really enjoyed Cowan's (private eye Sam Campbell) scenes with Cy Kendall. Kendall plays the sheriff, who's a bit on the shady side. I especially like the scene when the sheriff leaves Sam alone in the sheriff's office to ostensibly get a drinking glass and what happens immediately after that. Also funny was Sam's revenge later in the film towards the sheriff regarding the drinking glass incident. All in all, an excellent B film...check it out if you can.