Horace Takes Over (1942) AKA One Thrilling Night

John Beal and Wanda McKay have just been married, but they have only one night for their honeymoon, since he is being drafted. They check into a hotel, and it is obvious to all concerned that they are not from the city. He goes out to buy some champagne, and while he is gone she changes into something more comfortable. While they are occupied, two men crawl through the window and pull a body from under the bed. Horace comes back, so they hide under the bed. He thinks it is McKay, and assumes she is asleep - until she answers him and he discovers the body. They call Warren Hymer, the house detective, but when they come back the body is gone. Then they find him in their trunk, and then he is gone from there. Then Beal gets locked in the trunk showing how the corpse was sitting.

The criminal gang, led by Tom Neal, thinks that Beal is someone named "Duke," and so they steal the trunk with Beal in it. Neal's girfriend is Barbara Pepper, later known as Doris Ziffel on Green Acres, but much more glamorous in her early days.

Eventually a madcap series of events unfolds, fully slapstick in its nature, but entertaining nonetheless. They hide in a theater, but win the prize drawing, a sterling silver coffee set. While he is up on stage getting the prize, the thugs kidnap McKay. They finally figure out that Beal is not the Duke, and tie up the couple. With the help of the police they escape, but when they get back to the room the body is back in the closet. This time Hymer and the police see the evidence. Then Beal finds thousands of dollars in his robe pocket, obviously the money Duke was supposed to have. Neal and the gang come in through the window (again!), knock out Hymer, get the money and start to lock them in the closet, but Horace grabs the gun. Neal turns out the light and the gang escapes, with Beal and McKay after them. The big final fight/chase scene ensues, with a predictable finish.




Beal


McKay


Pepper