Ginger Rogers (Pat Morgan), Lyle Talbot (Ted Rand), Purnell Pratt (Inspector Russell), Arthur Hoyt (Wilfred), Harvey Clark (the janitor), Lillian Harmer (Augusta), Louise Beavers (maid), Clarence Wilson (Perkins), Cyril Ring (Eddie, the morgue attendant), Maurice Black (Martini), Tiny Sandford (Eddie, the detective), Jim Farley (Detective Brown), Dick Rush (policeman in hallway). Director: ALBERT RAY. Screenplay: Frances Hyland. Story; Kurt Kempler. Film editor: L.R. Brown. Photography: Harry Neumann, Tom Galligan. Costumes designed by Alfreda. Art director: Gene Hornbostel. Music supervisor: Abe Meyer. Assistant director: Wilbur McGaugh. Production manager: Sidney Algier. Sound recording: Homer C. Ellmaker. RCA Sound System. Associate producer: M.H. Hoffman, junior. An M.H. Hoffman (senior) Production. Filmed at RKO-Pathé Studios. Copyright 7 April 1933 by Allied Pictures Corporation. New York opening at the Cameo: 23 July 1933. U.S. release: 15 April 1933. 8 reels. 70 minutes. SYNOPSIS: A man falls to his death from the balcony of a high-rise apartment. His live-in secretary is under suspicion, but it turns out that the secretary is actually a reporter in disguise. NOTES: Ginger Rogers' last appearance on Poverty Row. Henceforth all her films, with the solitary exception of "The Confession" (1964) were made for and/or released by major studios.COMMENT: "An agreeable surprise" is how Frank S. Nugent (my favorite film critic) described this movie in The New York Times. And certainly if your expectations were low (as Mr. Nugent's were), this picture would rate high on the entertainment scale. The well-appointed sets and the atmospheric cinematography are both several notches higher than the usual independent studio shocker. The screenplay too is wittier and more pungent, more interestingly characterized and faster paced than the usual Poverty Row offering. Only the acting seems a little strained and forced. Admittedly, Ginger is competent enough, but lacks her usual sparkle and charisma. Lyle Talbot, Arthur Hoyt, Harvey Clark and Louise Beavers carry off the histrionic honors. True, they share the best lines and bits of business, but Miss Rogers and Mr. Pratt (who occupy so much screen time) really needed to perk up their roles. Maybe Ginger could have adopted a more slinky approach in the early stages of the movie and maybe Mr. Pratt would have done well to invest in a few eye-catching mannerisms. As it is, "A Shriek in the Night" could well disappoint Ginger's legions of fans.

When millionaire philanthropist falls from the top of a luxury apartment it is a mystery; did he fall, did he jump or was the pushed? The first person questioned is the dead man's secretary she claims to have no idea what happened and suggests the police talk to the maid; however she does warn them that the is a little dumb. The maid claims she may have heard a hissing noise but isn't certain. As the police discuss matters a reporter, Ted Rand, bluffs his way into the apartment… he isn't the first reporter there though; the secretary. Pat Morgan, is actually a reporter too. She had been investigating her employer and knew a lot more than she told the police. Unfortunately for her as the calls in the story she doesn't realise she is telling the story to her rival on the other phone rather than her paper. She gets the sack and is determined to get her revenge on Rand, who she was once involved with.As the story progresses more people die and motives start to emerge. It seems the dead man was involved with the woman in the apartment below and when she is found dead suspicion falls on the husband… although there are other dodgy characters about; including the mob. As Morgan digs deeper into the story she puts herself in real danger.At just over an hour in length this film doesn't outstay its welcome. There is a nice mystery with a reasonable number of suspects. While it is listed as a comedy it is better to think of it as a drama with a few comical moments as there are few real laughs to be had…if you don't include some of the overacting by secondary characters! Leads Ginger Rogers and Lyle Talbot are likable as Morgan and Rand. Given the fairly light tone to much of the film its ending gets quite dark; it looked as though Morgan was going to be incinerated by the villain… even though it was unlikely to actually happen this proved quite tense. Overall a pretty good film; it may be a bit crackly but the story is quite fresh.

This film begins with the sound of a man screaming as he is falling from a high-rise building to his death. It turns out that the man is a millionaire living in a penthouse and the police aren't sure if his death was due to an accident, suicide or murder. However, three weeks prior to his death he had hired a new secretary by the name of "Ms. Terry" (Ginger Rogers). At least that is what he thought. It subsequently turns out that she is a reporter by the name of "Pat Morgan" and she is working for the "Morning News". Her reason for masquerading as his secretary was to investigate whether this millionaire had underworld dealings with a mobster by the name of "Josephus Martini" (Maurice Black). Unfortunately, she accidentally gives the scoop to her rival "Ted Kord" (Lyle Talbot) who works for the "Daily Express". She is subsequently fired but it just so happens that there is much more to the case than either Pat or Ted realize at the time. Anyway, rather than divulging any more of the story I will just say that this was a decent little film that was probably rather good for its time (1933). It had an intriguing plot with a good measure of both comedy and mystery thrown in. On the other hand, the lighting was really bad and I thought that the script was a bit arcane and abrupt as well. In any case, this is clearly a grade-B movie which was only made watchable by the presence of Ginger Rogers who puts in a decent performance all things considered. Overall, I rate it as average.

Some rich guy takes a spill off a block of flats to the pavement below. The detective involved in the case thinks it isn't just a normal accident, especially when it turns out that the dead guy's secretary, Ginger Rogers, is really an investigative journalist. It seems the guy had mob connections (the gangster also has an apartment in the same building), but, if the mob whacked him, what's the meaning of the business cards that have a picture of a snake and the words 'You will hear it' written on them?I'll say no more about the plot as it works quite well up to a point, until the film non-chalantly reveals the killer about three quarters of the way through. Even though the mystery element is dispensed with, the film works well as our killer now targets the people getting close to discovering his identity. There's a lot of noir elements here as we see the killer's shadow a lot, and a lot of intrigue as two rival journalists try to outdo each other before joining forces. I almost got a giallo feel from this one (even though the giallo was far off in the future), what with the calling cards and such like. It's only an hour long so shouldn't tax your patience in any way. I'm beginning to really enjoy these old mystery films.