"What I create, I can destroy."
Boris Karloff is one of my absolute favorites. In “Night Key” by Universal Pictures he plays an inventor, David Mallory, who has created a burglar alarm. His previous burglar alarm system was basically stolen from him by Stephen Ranger (Samuel Hinds). This time he has a lawyer with him to make sure he gets the royalties he deserves. His lawyer, however, was bought out by Ranger. After Mallory signs the papers on his new invention he finds out that Ranger has no intention of putting it in place since the old one works fine. Once again Mallory is the victim of Ranger’s jealousy.
With a special “night key” developed for his new system Mallory can override his old system and cause mayhem for Ranger. With the help of a small time thief, Petty Louis (Hobart Cavanaugh) Mallory causes problems for Ranger’s company by breaking into places that use the old alarm system. He never steals anything.
In the meantime a mobster John Baron aka The Kid (Alan Baxter) and his gang find out about the night key and force Mallory to use his invention to help them commit robberies. When he refuses they kidnap his daughter Joan (Jean Rogers).
"Night Key" was released in 1937 and was directed by Lloyd Corrigan. Despite Universal’s claim, this is not a horror movie or a science fiction movie. It’s actually a thriller. The only thing close to being Science Fiction is the explanation of the current burglary system and the use of the special key to override it. The explanation is complicated but interesting.
Karloff plays a sympathetic old man who has been hoodwinked by an old friend and now by a mobster. His aim is to attempt to get his invention’s profits back before he goes blind. He is superb. The movie moves along at a good pace. The characters are good. It’s an entertaining movie. As long as you are fine with a decent thriller and can save your horror movie fix for the next one. This will do fine.