A Gentleman After Dark
Cast & Crew
Edwin L. Marin
Brian Donlevy
Miriam Hopkins
Preston Foster
Harold Huber
Philip Reed
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In 1923, on New Year's Eve, the editor of the New York Chronicle newspaper is anxiously awaiting word on the sensational theft of Mrs. Reginald Thorndyke's $50,000 bracelet. At the same time, Captain Tom Gaynor of the Detective Bureau discovers that the jewel thief is the notorious "Heliotrope" Harry Melton, known as such because of the heliotrope flowers he always wears in his lapel. Flo, Harry's "partner in love and crime," is at the hospital giving birth when her husband presents her with the bracelet as a gift. Gaynor, who believes that Harry is essentially a good person who went astray, informs the jewel thief that the Insurance Companies Protective Association has posted a reward for information leading to the arrest of the thief. Harry denies any link to the crime, and tells Gaynor that he is going to reform now that he is a father. However, Flo, who did not want to have a child, tells him that she does not want to move to the country with Harry and leave the world of crime. Harry's announced desire to quit the jewel theft racket causes Eddie, his partner, to look for a new partner in Flo. For his last "job," Harry joins Flo and Eddie in a jewel heist at a reception for socialite Pamela Cartwright. Later, Eddie and Flo try to frame Harry for the theft, but Harry foils their plan by hiding the stolen jewels before Gaynor gets to them. When Harry finds Eddie and Flo in an embrace, he kills Eddie and prohibits Flo from seeing their daughter Diana ever again. With Diana's interest at heart, Harry gives himself up and grants custody of his daughter to Gaynor until he is released from prison. Years pass, and Flo, reading the newspaper one day, sees the announcement of Diana's engagement. Knowing that Gaynor is now a justice of the State Supreme Court, Flo decides to use Diana's link to the underworld to blackmail him. When Harry's pal Stubby tells him about Flo's scheme, Harry breaks out of prison and looks for Flo. He finds Flo in the company of Enzo Calibra, her new accomplice, and, in the ensuing scuffle, Calibra is accidentally shot by his own bodyguard. Flo escapes, but when Harry corners her in her hotel room, she takes a step in the wrong direction and falls to her death. Diana's wedding takes place without incident, and Harry sends her a box of his favorite flowers, heliotrope.
Director
Edwin L. Marin
Cast
Brian Donlevy
Miriam Hopkins
Preston Foster
Harold Huber
Philip Reed
Gloria Holden
Douglass Dumbrille
Sharon Douglas
Bill Henry
Stephanie Foster
Crew
Howard Anderson
George Arthur
Edward Boyle
George Bruce
Don Cash
Max H. Golden
Abe Grossman
Milton Krasner
Patterson Mcnutt
Sam Nelson
Walter Plunkett
Arthur Roberts
John Ducasse Schulze
Dimitri Tiomkin
Grant Whytock
Grant Whytock
William Wilmarth
T. K. Wood
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this film was Heliotrope Harry. According to a Hollywood Reporter news item, Ilona Massey was initially slated to appear as "Flo Melton."
