Get those Nazis! And boy, do they! I need to mention that I first saw this Humphrey Bogart movie before “Casablanca,” “The Maltese Falcon,” and “The African Queen.” I was just a teenager then, and I absolutely loved it. I waited years to see it again, and it has remained one of my favorites. When it became available on video, I bought a copy and watched it repeatedly, trying to figure out why I enjoyed it so much. Although quite some time has passed since I last viewed it, I wanted to revisit an old favorite by sharing my thoughts. Following the events of September 11, 2001, films like "All Through the Night" feel more relevant than ever, especially given its New York City setting. Gloves Donahue (Humphrey Bogart) couldn’t be less interested in World War II—much like Scarlett O'Hara was in the civil war. He prefers eating his favorite Papa Miller’s cheesecake (and won’t accept any substitutes!) or going to the racetrack or a ballgame. So, when the baker who makes his beloved cheesecake unexpectedly turns up dead, Gloves is understandably upset and does everything he can to a.) discover the secret cheesecake recipe; b.) charm the widow; or c.) find the killer. If you guessed "C," you’d be right, but the playful jokes about “A” and “B” fit with the tone of this lighthearted World War II propaganda film. Gloves eventually learns that Miller was involved with a group of Nazi spies (against his will) and sets out to break them up, much to his own surprise. Yes, his team is an older group of Bowery Boys (played humorously by William Demarest, Frank McHugh, Jackie Gleason, and Phil Silvers), and yes, the villains are similar to those the Bowery Boys often faced in their films. In fact, the Bowery Boys had wartime storylines very much like this one. The Nazis are a nasty bunch of seemingly civilized people. Conrad Veidt, General Strasser from “Casablanca,” embodies dashing villainy as the leader of the Nazi ring hiding behind an auction shop owner's facade. Peter Lorre, also in "Casablanca," is the sinister Pepe, who we see committing the terrible act against poor Mr. Miller (Ludwig Stossel, again from “Casablanca”). To soften his murderous character, Pepe works as a piano player in a nightclub. Judith Anderson, known two years earlier for her role as the evil housekeeper Mrs. Danvers in "Rebecca," is back in black here but with sequins and a touch of glamour as Veidt's obvious mistress. Although she has fewer scenes than Veidt or Lorre, Anderson adds subtle nuances to her character through unspoken affection for Veidt that makes you feel sympathy for her. The heroine, Leda Hamilton, is portrayed by Kaaren Verne, who was actually Peter Lorre’s wife in real life. Here, Verne clearly dislikes Pepe, who obviously desires her. She's first seen after Miller's death visiting him, then disappears before Gloves can question her. Gloves’ nosy mother (played wonderfully by Jane Darwell), who initially informed Gloves about Miller's disappearance, later finds Leda at a nightclub, causing a commotion with the club owners (Barton MacLane and Edward Brophy). When Brophy is shot by Pepe, he lives long enough to give Gloves a clue that will ultimately reveal what’s going on. The film moves so quickly that detailing every scene would diminish the excitement and take up too much space. Let's just say the story unfolds at a rapid pace. While longer than most "B" movies of this type (100 minutes), “All Through the Night” keeps moving swiftly and is ultimately more entertaining. The writers devoted extra attention to character development, but that doesn’t slow down the film in any way. Every person who crosses Gloves' path gets a chance to reveal something about themselves, making them more than just one-dimensional villains or comic relief. Even McHugh has his own minor subplot involving his girlfriend. During World War II, there were numerous anti-Nazi dramas and comedies, and "All Through the Night" stands out as unique because it’s set in our own country. Released just two months after Pearl Harbor, “All Through the Night” served its purpose by bringing the idea of spies living among us to the public's attention. I’m sure many people watching this film wondered if the person sitting next to them was secretly a Nazi spy.

Source on TMDB