Fred Zinnemann directed Eyes in the Night, a crime mystery, based on Baynard Kendrick’s 1941 novel “The Odor of Violets,” starring Edward Arnold, Ann Harding and Donna Reed.
The film was followed by a sequel (also starring Arnold), The Hidden Eye.
Setting and Premise
Though New York private detective Duncan “Mac” MacLain is blind, he has keenly developed his other senses. He is assisted by his faithful guide dog Friday, his butler, Alistair, and his assistant, Marty.
Retired actress Norma Lawry, an old friend, comes to Mac seeking advice. Her headstrong 17-year-old step-daughter Barbara, herself a promising actress, is enamored with her leading man in a small theater production, the much older Lothario Paul Gerente. Paul, who had once been Norma’s lover, has convinced Barbara that Norma actually wants Paul for herself and has only married her father Stephen for his money.
At Mac’s urging, Norma tried to reason with Paul, but he laughs her off. Barbara is equally disdainful of her and agrees to meet Paul for dinner that night at his apartment.
Marty and Friday return with the police. When Friday is spotted by a lookout, Mac overpowers him and is saved from being shot by another lookout by Friday.
In the end, after the spies are captured, Stephen and Norma are off to Washington, D.C., with Barbara remaining behind to care for her new “Uncle Mac.”
The film earned $513,000 in the US and $465,000 elsewhere, making the studio a profit of $230,000.
Cast
Edward Arnold as Duncan “Mac” MacLain
Ann Harding as Norma Lawry
Donna Reed as Barbara Lawry
Stephen McNally as Gabriel Hoffman (as Horace McNally)
Katherine Emery as Cheli Scott
Allen Jenkins as Marty
Stanley Ridges as Hansen, Lawry’s butler
Reginald Denny as Stephen Lawry
John Emery as Paul Gerente
Rosemary DeCamp as Vera Hoffman, Lawry’s maid
Barry Nelson as Busch
Reginald Sheffield as Victor
Steven Geray as Anderson
Mantan Moreland as Alistair, Duncan’s butler
Milburn Stone as Detective Pete (uncredited)
Marie Windsor as Actress at rehearsal (uncredited)
