Released: 1942

Dir.: Vincent Sherman

How can you not like a movie that pits Humphrey Bogart against Conrad Veidt? Better still, gangsters versus Nazis! All Through the Night has this, and more. Add William Demarest, Frank McHugh, Judith Anderson, Jackie Gleason, Phil Silvers, and the always awesome Peter Lorre, and you have a great night’s entertainment.

Gloves Donahue (Humphrey Bogart) is a popular Broadway sporting figure and man about town, in other words a gambler. And when Gloves’ friend, and baker of his favourite cheesecake, Mr. Miller (Ludwig Stossel) is murdered, he’s not going to take it sitting down. Especially when his mother (Jane Darwell) gets ‘that feeling’; there is definitely something sinister going on.

Clues quickly point to the mysterious singer Leda Hamilton (Kaaren Verne) and her more than greasy pianist Pepe (Peter Lorre). Fortunately, Gloves has Barney (Frank McHugh) and Sunshine (William Demarest) on his side. As they wise-crack their way straight to the lair of the sinister Hall Ebbing (Conrad Veidt) and Madame (Judith Anderson). No, Ebbing and Madame are not a comedy team.

All Through the Night comes at a critical time in history. Nazi Germany has swept across Europe and has just invaded the Soviet Union. Diplomatic tension between Washington and Japan is ever increasing, and public opinion is mixed about the United States becoming involved in a ‘foreign war’. And the threat of enemy sympathizers planning to commit acts of sabotage, also known as the dreaded ‘fifth column’, lurks in the background. This is the focus of All Through the Night and where the film derives most of its humor.

Conrad Veidt is brilliant as the head of a Fifth Column unit bent on destroying a battleship. Veidt seamlessly skates between drama and humor, as demonstrated in the auction sequence. Ebbing is equal parts charm and evil, although he really enjoys being evil. His timing is equally on target.

What makes the film different from other comedies of the time, is the villains are truly sinister and dangerous. And that’s what I like about All Through the Night. Bogart and his companions are genuinely funny and are comprised of the best comedic character actors of the time, against truly evil villains who are played by the best villainous actors of the time. It is the perfect storm for an escapist and entertaining film.

You won’t remember All Through the Night like you will Casablanca or The Maltese Falcon, it’s not in their class. But it works so well, and builds to a very satisfactory climax, which is brilliant and funny. Poor Hansel… And yes, Bogart can play comedy with the best of them.All Through the Night is available on DVD from Warner Home Video and airs from time to time on TCM.