Night Patrol 1984

Melvin White, Murray Langston, is an inept policeman who finds himself demoted to night patrol by a captain who lies pathologically and is infamous for his loud flatulence. His partner, Pat Paulsen Kent Lane, is a veteran of ten years who enjoys casual encounters in the back of his police car, adding a volatile edge to their day-to-day work. Linda Blair plays Officer Sue Perman, who is clearly attracted to White, though he misreads her signals and treats her as only a friend.

White and Lane drift between a string of odd assignments: a couple parked in front of a fire hydrant, colleagues smoking marijuana that they end up joining, and a male rape victim whose high-pitched voice sticks in memory. Between shifts, White also performs at night as The Unknown Comic, a stand-up persona he hides behind by wearing a paper bag with holes for eyes and mouth. The act brings him some popularity, and a talent agent begins to take notice, raising the stakes for his double life. Edith Hutton, a devoted fan, is drawn to the Unknown Comic and even contemplates leaving her current boyfriend to uncover the person underneath the bag.

White’s nights aren’t the only thing he hides; he also attends sessions with a psychiatrist, adding another layer of tension to his already complicated life. The plot thickens when a thief starts robbing bars at gunpoint while dressed as The Unknown Comic. No one grasps the impostor’s identity, though the captain harbors a growing suspicion that it is White. To prove his innocence while shielding his stand-up persona, White teams up with Lane to track down the mimic.

Complications escalate at a venue where White is supposed to perform as The Unknown Comic, but he’s pulled into the investigation instead. An impersonator appears on stage to perform, while another slips in to steal money. White and Lane pursue the thief in a climactic showdown reminiscent of a Western duel, and White emerges victorious. The unmasked impersonator turns out to be his psychiatrist, Doctor Ziegler, who admits he wanted to exploit White’s identity for money. White then confronts the second impersonator, who turns out to be Perman. In the end, Perman and White share a moment of intimacy at White’s apartment.

The film also features Kitten Natividad in a supporting role, adding another distinctive presence to the ensemble, and Jeff Maxwell appears as a Flashing Prisoner, contributing to the chaotic and comical tone that punctuates White’s world.