Sometimes there are actors that a person sees in a film or a television program, ones they have seen multiple times before, but cannot put a name to a face. Jerome Cowan is one of those actors, always part of the cast but never the lead. In Crime by Night, released in 1944, Cowan finally takes the top spot, after Jane Wyman that is, and stars as a detective who will do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of the mystery he suddenly finds himself in.

Cowan stars as Sam Campbell, who is hired by a man named Larry, a man who is now the prime suspect in the murder of his father-in-law, Harvey Carr. Campbell and his sidekick Robbie, as played by Wyman, take the case and head off to clear the client’s name. As the investigation progresses, they discover another body, devious women and a possible spy ring, which is far more than they bargained for when taking the case. Still, they do not give up, pressing on with resolve, quick talk, quicker thinking, and a few smiles.

For a B film, this movie packs a lot into its short running time, and it does so in the best possible manner. Directed by William Clemens, the man has no need for tricks, keeping a steady hand while Cowan carries the picture from beginning to end. Cowan has always been a reliable actor, appearing in High Sierra, Torrid Zone, and The Maltese Falcon, among many others, but it is here where he gets to showcase his skills, and he is a literal joy to watch. What is quite noticeable is that Cowan is also having a good time with the role, almost as if he were born to play the zany detective, and making it humorous to see Wyman as the straight man in the pair. That alone provides a chuckle or two throughout the picture, adding a level of enjoyment to the entire affair.

As for the mystery in this film, it starts out rather simple and becomes rather complicated by the end as the suspects multiply and the clues are not altogether helpful. By the end of it all, the culprit is not someone the audience might have suspected—which is a good thing—but by that point, they’ve introduced a spy ring and all sorts of unnecessary elements that the filmmakers could have done without. After all of that, the movie manages to end on a happy note with Wyman and Cowan getting together, though who knows how long that would last, given that the man likes the ladies just a little too much.

Summing it all up, Crime by Night is a fun little whodunnit featuring solid performances by talented actors, making for a strong B picture. Running just over an hour, it is definitely worth a watch, at least once or twice.

3 out of 5