One Thrilling Night
Encyclopedia
One Thrilling Night is a 1942 American film directed by William Beaudine
.
The film is also known as Horace Takes Over (American TV title)
and Wanda McKay), check into the Hotel Clark, prepared to spend their first night together as a married couple; their first and last night before Horace joins the army.
Once in the room, the couple decides to buy some champagne and celebrate. Horace goes down to buy the champagne and Millie dims the lights and changes in the other room. Meanwhile, Pete Mooney ( Ernie Adams (actor)
) and Joe Richmond ( Lynton Brent
) enter the room through the window, and pull the unconscious body of Duke Keesler ( Pierce Lynden ) out from under the bed and frisk him on the mattress until Horace returns. Mooney and Richmond hurriedly cover the body, and duck under the bed. Horace and Millie discover the body and run down the hall to enlist the help of the hotel’s detective, Pat Callahan ( Warren Hymer
). While they are gone, Mooney and Richmond stuff the body into Millie’s empty trunk, and escape out the window. When Horace and Millie return again, the body appears to be gone, and Callahan leaves them to their evening. imbd.com
Horace opens the trunk and the body of Duke Keesler falls out. While Horace and Millie run to get Callahan, Keesler comes to, and escapes out of the window. Millie and Horace re-create what they found, and accidentally lock Horace in the trunk. Callahan and Millie then leave to get spare keys and an axe to get Horace out. While they are away, Richmond and Mooney reappear and take the trunk away.
Mooney and Richmond take the trunk to Frankie Saxton ( Tom Neal
), a gangster looking for Duke Keesler regarding a stolen $50 thousand. Mooney and Richmond leave Saxton with the case, thinking Keesler is still in it. The trunk is opened and Horace tries to explain a mistake has been made. Saxton, along with Skinny (Gene O’Donnell), Tubby (Jim O’Gatty), and Dotty ( Barbara Pepper ), think that Horace is playing a disguise. In a moment of opportunity, Horace escapes and runs down the street, only to be arrested for indecency and returned to the hotel. tcm.com
While following Callahan to their room, Millie and Horace are snagged and coaxed to get into are car. They dodge the gangsters, and hide in a movie theater, catching the tail end of the film. Horace wins a prize before the audience departs, and as he’s on stage, Millie is taken away by the gangster team. Dotty meets up with a frantic Horace and takes him to the rest of the gangster group, where they discover Horace really isn’t the Duke. They tie and gag he and Millie. In order to get attention, Horace turns the radio on, which alerts the neighbors to their situation. The police arrive and take the couple back to their hotel room once more. Prior to their arrival, the real Duke’s body is stuffed into the closet. Horace discovers it as he puts his robe away, along with the $50 thousand in his robe pocket. Frankie Saxton and the gang enter the room, only to be taken out by Millie and Horace. Saxton and his group are taken to jail, and Millie and Horace are left, finally, to be alone in their room. Right before calling it a night, their 6 AM wakeup call arrives. As Horace makes haste to get ready to take the train, Millie closes the video with a nod towards the upcoming war with her quote “Darn those Japs”. classiccinemaonline.com
William Beaudine
William Beaudine was an American film actor and director. He was one of Hollywood's most prolific directors, turning out films in remarkable numbers and in a wide variety of genres.-Early life and career:...
.
The film is also known as Horace Takes Over (American TV title)
Plot summary
One Thrilling Night opens as the newlywed couple, Mr. and Mrs. Horace Jason ( John BealJohn Beal (actor)
-Life and career:Beal was born James Alexander Bliedung in Joplin, Missouri. He originally went to New York to study art but a chance to understudy in a play made him change his mind. He began acting in the 1930s, opposite Katharine Hepburn , among others; one of his notable screen appearances was...
and Wanda McKay), check into the Hotel Clark, prepared to spend their first night together as a married couple; their first and last night before Horace joins the army.
Once in the room, the couple decides to buy some champagne and celebrate. Horace goes down to buy the champagne and Millie dims the lights and changes in the other room. Meanwhile, Pete Mooney ( Ernie Adams (actor)
Ernie Adams (actor)
Ernie Adams was an American film actor. He appeared in over 400 films between 1919 and 1948.He was born in San Francisco, California and died in Hollywood, California.-Selected filmography:...
) and Joe Richmond ( Lynton Brent
Lynton Brent
Lynton Brent was an American film actor. He appeared in over 240 films between 1930 and 1950.Brent is best known for his prolific work with Columbia Pictures in the Three Stooges short subjects such as A Ducking They Did Go and From Nurse to WorseIn addition to his film career, Brent also wrote a...
) enter the room through the window, and pull the unconscious body of Duke Keesler ( Pierce Lynden ) out from under the bed and frisk him on the mattress until Horace returns. Mooney and Richmond hurriedly cover the body, and duck under the bed. Horace and Millie discover the body and run down the hall to enlist the help of the hotel’s detective, Pat Callahan ( Warren Hymer
Warren Hymer
Warren Hymer was an American film actor. He appeared in 129 films between 1929 and 1946.He was born in New York, New York, and died in Los Angeles, California...
). While they are gone, Mooney and Richmond stuff the body into Millie’s empty trunk, and escape out the window. When Horace and Millie return again, the body appears to be gone, and Callahan leaves them to their evening. imbd.com
Horace opens the trunk and the body of Duke Keesler falls out. While Horace and Millie run to get Callahan, Keesler comes to, and escapes out of the window. Millie and Horace re-create what they found, and accidentally lock Horace in the trunk. Callahan and Millie then leave to get spare keys and an axe to get Horace out. While they are away, Richmond and Mooney reappear and take the trunk away.
Mooney and Richmond take the trunk to Frankie Saxton ( Tom Neal
Tom Neal
Thomas Neal was an American actor best known for appearing in the critically lauded film Detour, a tryst with Barbara Payton and later committing manslaughter.-Career:...
), a gangster looking for Duke Keesler regarding a stolen $50 thousand. Mooney and Richmond leave Saxton with the case, thinking Keesler is still in it. The trunk is opened and Horace tries to explain a mistake has been made. Saxton, along with Skinny (Gene O’Donnell), Tubby (Jim O’Gatty), and Dotty ( Barbara Pepper ), think that Horace is playing a disguise. In a moment of opportunity, Horace escapes and runs down the street, only to be arrested for indecency and returned to the hotel. tcm.com
While following Callahan to their room, Millie and Horace are snagged and coaxed to get into are car. They dodge the gangsters, and hide in a movie theater, catching the tail end of the film. Horace wins a prize before the audience departs, and as he’s on stage, Millie is taken away by the gangster team. Dotty meets up with a frantic Horace and takes him to the rest of the gangster group, where they discover Horace really isn’t the Duke. They tie and gag he and Millie. In order to get attention, Horace turns the radio on, which alerts the neighbors to their situation. The police arrive and take the couple back to their hotel room once more. Prior to their arrival, the real Duke’s body is stuffed into the closet. Horace discovers it as he puts his robe away, along with the $50 thousand in his robe pocket. Frankie Saxton and the gang enter the room, only to be taken out by Millie and Horace. Saxton and his group are taken to jail, and Millie and Horace are left, finally, to be alone in their room. Right before calling it a night, their 6 AM wakeup call arrives. As Horace makes haste to get ready to take the train, Millie closes the video with a nod towards the upcoming war with her quote “Darn those Japs”. classiccinemaonline.com
Cast
- John BealJohn Beal (actor)-Life and career:Beal was born James Alexander Bliedung in Joplin, Missouri. He originally went to New York to study art but a chance to understudy in a play made him change his mind. He began acting in the 1930s, opposite Katharine Hepburn , among others; one of his notable screen appearances was...
as Horace Jason - Wanda McKay as Millie Jason
- Warren HymerWarren HymerWarren Hymer was an American film actor. He appeared in 129 films between 1929 and 1946.He was born in New York, New York, and died in Los Angeles, California...
as Pat Callahan - J. Farrell MacDonaldJ. Farrell MacDonaldJoseph Farrell MacDonald was an American character actor and director. He played supporting roles and occasional leads. MacDonald, who was sometimes billed as "John Farrell Macdonald", "J.F...
as Police Sergeant Haggerty - Barbara Pepper as Lettie
- Tom NealTom NealThomas Neal was an American actor best known for appearing in the critically lauded film Detour, a tryst with Barbara Payton and later committing manslaughter.-Career:...
as Frankie Saxton - Ernie AdamsErnie Adams (actor)Ernie Adams was an American film actor. He appeared in over 400 films between 1919 and 1948.He was born in San Francisco, California and died in Hollywood, California.-Selected filmography:...
as Pete Mooney - Lynton BrentLynton BrentLynton Brent was an American film actor. He appeared in over 240 films between 1930 and 1950.Brent is best known for his prolific work with Columbia Pictures in the Three Stooges short subjects such as A Ducking They Did Go and From Nurse to WorseIn addition to his film career, Brent also wrote a...
as Joe Richmond - Pierce LydenPierce LydenPierce Lyden was an American actor best known for his work in television and film Westerns.-Early life:Pierce Lyden was born in a sod house on a ranch near Hildreth in rural Franklin County, Nebraska, on January 8, 1908. Son of a horse buyer for the U.S...
as Duke Keesler - Gene O'Donnell as Skinny
- Jimmy O'Gatty as Tubby
- Tom Herbert as Hotel Clerk