London By Night (1937)

• Director
  • Wilhelm Thiele
• Writers
  • George Oppenheimer(screen play)
  • Will Scott(from a play by)
• Stars
  • George Murphy
  • Rita Johnson
  • Virginia Field

  London by Night was filmed entirely on the MGM back lot, which admittedly looked more like England than England. Adapted from Will Scott's play The Umbrella Man, this atmospheric thriller concerns the a series of murders committed in foggy Sundial Square by an elusive gentleman known variously as The Umbrella and Mr. Rabbit. Irish reporter Michael Dennis (George Murphy) joins forces with Scotland Yard inspector Jefferson (George Zucco) to trap the killer and determine his (or her) motives. Adding to the confusion is the fact that two of the "victims" are still alive -- and that those "two" are actually one! Among those bumped off by the villain are Eddie Quillan and Virginia Field, both cast against type as cockney pub-crawlers. If there was any doubt as to the identity of The Umbrella, the closing credits wipe them away by billing the actor in question under all his screen aliases.