The Longest Night is a 1936 American mystery film directed by Errol Taggart and written by Robert Hardy Andrews. The film stars Robert Young, Florence Rice, Ted Healy, Julie Haydon, Catherine Doucet and Janet Beecher. The film was released on October 2, 1936, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Running a mere 51 minutes, it is believed to be the shortest feature ever produced by MGM, lending a certain irony to the title.
Elements of the plot were later reworked into the 1941 Marx Bros. comedy The Big Store.
Contents
Plot
A department store where she works is robbed by Eve Sutton and an accomplice, Carl Briggs. A wristwatch they stole is recognized by Eve's sister Joan, who reports her suspicions to Mrs. Briggs, who is Eve's boss at the store.
Joan bumps into Charley Phelps, the store owner's son, who develops a personal interest in her. As an investigation into the robbery begins, Carl Briggs is shot and killed, his mother's body is also found, and Eve and a co-worker, Mr. Grover, are taken hostage.
To bring help, Joan starts a fire that sets off the store's sprinkler system. Firemen and police race to the scene as Joan and a crew of cleaning ladies fend off the gang, while Charley fights and overcomes the scheme's mastermind and killer, Grover.
Cast
Robert Young as Charley Phelps
Florence Rice as Joan Sutton
Ted Healy as Police Sergeant Magee
Julie Haydon as Eve Sutton
Catherine Doucet as Mrs. Wilson G. Wilson
Janet Beecher as Mrs. Briggs
Leslie Fenton as Carl Briggs
Sidney Toler as Captain Holt
Paul Stanton as Mr. Grover
Etienne Girardot as Kendrick Kinney
Tommy Bupp as Albert Wilson
Samuel S. Hinds as Hastings
Minor Watson as Hardy
Kitty McHugh as Midge Riley
Olin Howland as Smythe
Gertrude Sutton as Miss Ashforth
John Hyams as Mr. Fergus