THE LONGEST NIGHT (1936)
Written by Robert Hardy Andrews Directed by Errol Taggart

When young department store heir Charley Phelps (Robert Young) visits his father’s store intending to sell it, he finds murder, mystery and romance. This peppy little comedy/mystery runs a scant 51 minutes and makes the most of every one of ‘em, with the revelation of its first murder surprisingly grotesque. Lovely Florence Rice is Young’s initially reluctant romantic interest, intriguing Julie Haydon is her criminal sister, and Sidney Toler plays the police captain doing his darndest to keep things under control. This is also the only film in which I’ve seen Ted Healey act at all likeable, particularly in his semi-romantic moments with world-weary salesgirl Kitty McHugh. I never would have seen this if it weren’t for the recommendation of Larry Blamire, who aptly dubbed it an “old dark department store” picture. Thanks, Lar! (Viewed on TCM, whose print is stellar.)

— Robert Deveau, The Doomed Farmer