Terror at Midnight (1956) Poster

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6/10
one problem after another
blanche-210 September 2021
Neal Rickards (Scott Brady) is due for a big promotion in the police department, but he tells his fiance Susan (Joan Vohs) that they both have to keep their noses clean.

That night, a bicycle comes out of nowhere and hits her car. A man (Percy Helton) approaches her and suggests that she take off, otherwise, it will be difficult for her. Naive and afraid for Neal's promotion, she does so. We however have seen him write down her license plate.

In a panic, she drives to a garage owned by Fred Hill (Frank Faylen) and asks that the car be repaired as soon as possible. Fred's wife Helen (Virginia Gregg) is an alcoholic and is always angry and suspicious of him being with other women. He's involved in a stolen car racket, and she knows it.

When Susan goes to pick up the car, the scene erupts in violence as Helen tries to break down a back door, screaming that she knows he's with someone. Fred winds up dead.

Things couldn't get any worse for poor Susan, and the story continues from there.

Decent story, with a wonderful role for Faylen, a departure from his good guy small parts. Virginia Gregg is effective as his wife.

Scott Brady and Joan Vohs make a ggod couple. One interesting thing - a reminder that in those days, you went from your parents' home to the home you will share with your husband, as Susan will.

John Dehner is one of the racketeers in the film.

Murder and blackmail, a familiar combo.
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7/10
Always beware of the kindness of strangers.
mark.waltz13 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Every time Percy Helton shows up, you know there's going to be trouble for the person he encounters. In this case, it's Joan Vohs who has borrowed fiancee Scott Brady's car and accidentally runs over a night watchman on a bicycle. Helton urges Vohs to scram, yet writes down the license plate number, planning to blackmail her. Others have the same idea, and before you can scream "woman driver!", Brady (who's also a cop) tries to get her out of this jam.

A suspenseful account of what happens when being in the wrong place at the wrong time leads to someone making a rash decision, this Republic film noir is surprised arch and violent. Opportunity knocks, and those on the other side of the door finds danger there, unexpected rotten behavior through human greed and vindictive vendettas.

Garage owner Frank Faylen uses knowledge of the accidental crime in the wrong way, incuring the wrath of his volatile hard drinking wife, Virginia Gregg. This one's filled with surprises, and in spite of a budget perhaps only slightly higher than a 50's television program is quite gripping. Helton and Gregg really get some good scenery to chew, although I always fear that Helton's going to pass out from lack of oxygen.
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An effective Republic yarn.
searchanddestroy-117 May 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I just discovered it. A very well made story, surprising for this kind of B movie. A policeman's bride is implicated in a hit and run accident. Both her and the police officer - Scott Brady - have to face blackmailers. One bystander who witnessed the accident, and the garage owner to whom she went to repair her car. The owner tries to abuse her for his silence, about the accident to report to the police. She refuses. And, the owner, who has very serious problems with his wife, has a terrible quarrel with her and she kills him. The police force investigates about this strange death and, of course, the poor officer's wife, who had the accident, is suspected because the police found some traces of the hit and run accident on the very place where the garage owner found death, crashed by a car he was repairing. Killed by his own wife...

So the police officer and his fiancée will have to prove the young woman' innocence, while the owner's wife - or may I say widow - tries to blackmail her husband - dead husband - associates. Hoods with whom he made some outlaw activities.

So, it's a movie with some stories mixed one with another, stories of blackmailing within blackmailing. Interesting at the most.

I won't tell you longer about this film, but it's really worthwhile.
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