Terror at Midnight is a 1956 American film noir crime film directed by Franklin Adreon and starring Scott Brady, Joan Vohs and Frank Faylen.
The film's sets were designed by art director Walter E. Keller.
Plot
Rick Rickards, a cop, lends his car to Susan Lang, his fiancée. She accidentally runs into a night watchman riding a bicycle. An eyewitness named Speegle suggests she flee the scene before the watchman regains consciousness.
Susan takes the car to an auto shop run by Fred Hill, who recognizes it as Rick's vehicle. What she doesn't know is that Hill is in business with a couple of criminals, Hanlon and Mascotti. The men are concerned about Hill's alcoholic wife, Helen, who knows too much about their activities.
Speegle shows up at Susan's home, hoping to blackmail her for $500. He finds out her boyfriend is a cop and scrams. Susan is told by Hill that he needs more time to repair her car, Hill now realizing that the car's been involved in an accident, information he can use. Helen, seeing her husband and Susan together, believes he is seeing another woman and, in a fit of drunken jealousy, gets into a truck and runs down Hill, killing him.
Susan ends up suspected of the crime. Helen, in a panic and eager to leave town, goes to Hanlon and Mascotti threatening to tell everything she knows unless they pay her $5,000. They kill her instead. Susan finds the body and becomes the prime suspect in two murders now.
Rick offers to resign from the force, but is urged to stay on it and solve the case. He and another officer end up in a car chase, forcing Hanlon and Mascotti off the road, arresting one and shooting the other. Susan is cleared of all charges and Rick takes her home.
Cast
Scott Brady as Neal 'Rick' Rickards
Joan Vohs as Susan Lang
Frank Faylen as Fred Hill
John Dehner as Lew Hanlon
Virginia Gregg as Helen Hill
Ric Roman as Police Sgt. Brazzi
John Gallaudet as George Flynn
Kem Dibbs as Nick Mascotti
Percy Helton as Speegie
Francis De Sales as Police Lt. Conway
John Maxwell as Police Capt. Allyson
Rick Vallin as Police Officer Gaudino
John Damler as Police Officer Garfinkle
Jose Gonzales-Gonzales as Delivery Man
Joi Lansing as Hazel
Ruth Lee as Mrs. Lang
Doris Singleton as Linda
Marjorie Stapp as Waitress
Marcia Sweet as Neighborhood Woman
Dan Terranova as The Kid
Rod Williams as Police Officer Udell
See also
List of American films of 1956
References
Bibliography
Koper, Richard. Fifties Blondes: Sexbombs, Sirens, Bad Girls and Teen Queens. BearManor Media, 2010.