Highways by Night
Highways by Night

Movie spotlight

Highways by Night

1942
Movie
65 min
English

A young millionaire (Richard Carlson) joins the real world and meets a maid (Jane Randolph) and mobsters.

Insights

IMDb6.1/10
Director: William C. McGannGenres: Film-Noir, Crime, Drama

Plot Summary

A young district attorney investigates a series of seemingly unrelated crimes that lead him to uncover a complex web of deceit and murder within the city's underworld. He finds himself drawn into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a ruthless crime boss and a mysterious woman.

Critical Reception

Highways by Night is a lesser-known but intriguing early noir film that showcases a compelling story and solid performances. While not a major critical success upon release, it has gained a cult following among noir enthusiasts for its atmospheric direction and suspenseful plot.

What Reviewers Say

  • Appreciated for its atmospheric noir elements and suspenseful narrative.

  • Praised for solid performances, particularly from the lead actors.

  • Noted as an effective, if somewhat conventional, early example of the crime thriller genre.

Google audience: Audience reception is difficult to gauge due to the film's age and limited availability, but it is generally considered a competent crime drama with some noir sensibilities.

Fun Fact

Although often categorized as film noir, 'Highways by Night' predates the genre's peak period and shares more stylistic similarities with pre-war crime dramas, making it an interesting transitional film.

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