The Laemmle family had finally been forced to
sell Universal in 1936 bringing to an end a remarkable run of films since
Carl Laemmle founded the studio in 1920. There had been many classic films
in that period, but of special interest to many were their horror films; still
loved by many today. Night Key was produced under the new ownership, but
starred Karloff leading many to assume it to be one of Universal's horror
films. And it is in fact included in some books on the subject. It isn't.
A crime film of sorts, but nothing really of a horror nature. Under the new
ownership, budgets were cut and that pushes this into B film territory. Karloff
gives a fine performance and there are some technical gadgets of interest,
but otherwise it is a slight slog.
Karloff plays an old creaky man much older
than he really was - something he was to often do - who is going blind. He
has invented a new type of alarm system that is wireless and his crooked lawyer
has set him up to sell it to the owner of the current system (Samuel Hinds)
who had cheated Karloff years before. He does it again.Good. A fine set-up for Karloffian revenge. But
damn, Karloff is just too nice. He tells Hinds, I understand why you cheated
me the first time, but again? Instead, he invents an electronic device that
allows him to get around the alarms. He calls it The Key. To steal, right?.
No! To just embarrass Hinds. Come on Boris. Eventually, some crooks see the
value of his gadget and it pretty much goes as you expect it to. Though what
happens to henchman Ward Bond was fun. Zap. Even has to have a dull romance
between his daughter (Jean Rogers) and a security guard (Warren Hull) that
is dragged into it like street kill. Some potential here for Karloff to play
the mad scientist, but that would come later. This was directed by Lloyd Corrigan
who was soon to give up directing and become a character actor.
