All Through The Night (1942)

Introduction

Released just weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbour, All Through the Night is a curious but entertaining hybrid — part gangster caper, part anti-Nazi propaganda thriller, and part screwball comedy. Directed by Vincent Sherman and anchored by Humphrey Bogart in a rare comedic-hero role, the film uses a familiar noir-ish New York setting and populates it with gangsters, spies, dames, and doughnuts — all while warning about the threat of fascism on American soil.

Though not as well-remembered as Bogart’s landmark films like Casablanca (released later that same year), The Maltese Falcon, or The Big Sleep, All Through the Night remains a zippy, satisfying piece of wartime entertainment — one that cleverly uses genre tropes to raise awareness about domestic sabotage and the need for vigilance, unity, and yes, a bit of street smarts.

Plot Summary

Bogart plays “Gloves” Donahue, a wisecracking Broadway gambler and self-styled tough guy who’s more interested in prizefighting and cheesecake than politics. That is, until his favourite German baker, Miller, is found dead — murdered. When Gloves investigates, he stumbles into a vast Nazi spy ring operating in New York, led by the suave and sinister E. Abbott (Conrad Veidt) and the chilling, bug-eyed Pepi (Peter Lorre).

What begins as a personal quest for justice becomes something much bigger as Gloves and his loyal gang — full of classic Warner Bros. character actors — take it upon themselves to expose and dismantle the fascist plot, which includes blowing up a U.S. battleship. Along the way, Gloves teams up with a reluctant nightclub singer, Leda Hamilton (Kaaren Verne), who may be hiding secrets of her own.

It’s gangsters versus Nazis, with wisecracks, fistfights, and late-night chases through shadowy New York streets — all moving at a breathless pace.

Performances

Humphrey Bogart as “Gloves” Donahue

Bogart is at his most charismatic here, playing against type as a rough-edged but ultimately good-hearted crook with a sharp tongue and a soft spot for his mother. His comic timing is excellent, delivering rapid-fire dialogue with the ease of a vaudeville veteran. What’s fascinating is watching Bogart embody the quintessential New Yorker — cynical, skeptical, streetwise — and evolve into a patriotic hero by the end. It’s one of his more relaxed and playful performances.

Conrad Veidt as E. Abbott

Veidt, a German actor who had fled the Nazis in real life, lends gravitas and menace to the role of the urbane saboteur. He exudes intelligence and calm malice, making Abbott more than a cartoon villain — he’s the embodiment of creeping authoritarianism cloaked in sophistication.

Peter Lorre as Pepi

Always effective as the sinister sidekick, Lorre plays Pepi with twitchy malevolence. His wide-eyed expressions and oily demeanour add a jolt of unpredictable energy to every scene he’s in. He’s a perfect foil for Bogart’s dry coolness.

Kaaren Verne as Leda Hamilton

A real-life German émigrée, Verne adds emotional credibility to her role as a nightclub singer caught between two worlds. She’s not just the love interest but also a narrative pivot point, and she handles her moral conflict with understated strength.

👵 Jane Darwell as Ma Donahue

Though she has limited screen time, Darwell (best known for The Grapes of Wrath) is a standout as Gloves’ beloved, meddling, fiercely loyal mother — a classic comic foil whose baking obsession unwittingly uncovers a spy plot.

Direction and Style

Vincent Sherman, in only his second feature as director, handles the blend of genres with surprising agility. The pacing is brisk and energetic, with the tension rising steadily once the mystery shifts into full-blown espionage. Sherman keeps things stylish but not overly flashy, relying on tight interiors and smoky lighting to emphasize noir elements while still leaving room for comedic rhythm.

There’s also a very deliberate use of juxtaposition: cosy city life and domestic familiarity contrasted with the foreign coldness of Nazi ideology. This contrast reinforces the film’s core message — that everyday Americans must not remain apathetic to rising fascism.

Themes and Subtext

Though lighthearted on the surface, All Through the Night carries some powerful messages, particularly in the context of 1942:

US Patriotism Through Action

The film is a call to arms — subtly (and sometimes overtly) urging Americans to wake up and confront enemies both foreign and domestic. Gloves represents the “average Joe” who doesn’t care about politics until it threatens his community. Once he’s engaged, however, he proves that ordinary citizens — even gangsters — can be heroes when the stakes are high.

Fascism as Infiltration

Rather than portraying Nazis as remote, distant villains, the film presents them as local, even familiar — they’re already here, disguised in plain sight. That was a chilling concept in 1942 and adds urgency and relevance to the plot.

Comedy as a Weapon

The film uses humor not to downplay the threat, but to disarm and ridicule it. By mocking the Nazis’ self-seriousness, the film robs them of some power while still making clear that their intentions are deadly serious.

Music and Tone

The score by Adolph Deutsch supports the shifting tones — from noir mystery to slapstick to wartime thriller — with agility. Music cues often highlight the absurdity of some situations (especially involving Gloves' cronies) while shifting to suspenseful strings when danger creeps in.

The tone overall is playful but never trivial. Even when the heroes are cracking jokes, the film never lets the audience forget what’s at stake.

Legacy and Impact

Though not one of Bogart’s most canonized films, All Through the Night was a critical and commercial success upon release and contributed to Hollywood’s growing engagement with World War II before the U.S. had fully mobilized. It helped set the template for a wave of propaganda-thrillers that blended entertainment with awareness.

It also stands as an early example of how Hollywood would weaponize genre cinema against fascism — using comedy, gangsters, and noir aesthetics to warn, educate, and rally the public.

Today, it holds up surprisingly well — fast, funny, and eerily timely, with a cast that radiates Golden Age charm.

Verdict

A smart, sharp-witted wartime thriller that blends humour and heroism with a message that still resonates. Bogart is a blast, and the supporting cast is dynamite. Not just propaganda — it’s first-rate entertainment with a conscience.