All Through the Night Blu-ray Review: Bogie Knocks Those Heels Back on Their Axis

Even though the U.S. had entered WWII by 1942, “Gloves” Donahue (Humphrey Bogart) is too busy scheming for cash in New York City to care. That all changes when his favorite neighborhood baker gets murdered, leading to his discovery of an underground Nazi cell operating in the middle of Manhattan. With colorful characters and snappy banter galore, the film takes a surprisingly lighthearted approach to the looming horrors of the Third Reich.

Gloves soon discovers that a mystery dame (Kaaren Verne) is a key to the conspiracy, leading him to follow her around town right into a shadowy warehouse acting as a front for the entire Nazi operation. Now firmly on the radar of the Nazis, Gloves and his buddies race against time to determine the nature of a sinister Nazi plot, save the dame, and get the cops to bust up the cell for good. As directed by Vincent Sherman, the film moves at a blistering pace, with action aplenty and so much rapid-fire dialogue that it feels like double time. 

Bogart is in prime form here, still carrying his youthful swagger and igniting the screen with his charisma. Unfortunately, his female co-star isn’t up to the task of matching his intensity, with Verne putting in a bland, wooden performance as the damsel in distress. Peter Lorre makes for a surprisingly menacing foe as a high-ranking Nazi henchman, while William Demarest and Frank McHugh bring the laughs as Gloves’ wise-cracking sidekicks. Phil Silvers and a baby-faced young Jackie Gleason also make brief appearances. It’s all Bogie’s vehicle though, and he makes it a thrilling, fully satisfying ride.

The new Warner Archive Blu-ray is stacked with bonus features including an archival feature commentary by the director and a Bogart biographer. A featurette explores the craft of the character actor, while other bonus clips help to replicate the 1940s theatrical experience, including a vintage 1942 newsreel, a live-action comedy short, and a classic WB cartoon. The feature film is presented in its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio, with DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono sound. Image quality is remarkably crisp and clear, with well-defined contrast enhancing the superb black-and-white photography. The soundtrack is also remarkably clean, with no noticeable hiss or defects.