What Is Midnight Manhunt About?
The premise of Midnight Manhunt in 254 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the shadowy corridors of a wax museum, where lifelike figures stand frozen in eerie stillness, mystery and absurdity intertwine in unexpected ways. The setting itself becomes a character—a place where truth can be concealed among artifice, and where the uncanny atmosphere lends itself to both tension and dark humor. Here, in this peculiar world where the weird and whacky collide, an unusual story begins to take shape, drawing in anyone who dares to look beneath the surface.
Reporter Sue Gallagher lives above the museum, occupying a space between the ordinary and the extraordinary. When circumstances draw her into a strange situation, her journalistic instincts propel her into action, and she soon discovers that the museum’s waxen inhabitants may not be the only ones holding secrets. Her proximity to the scene places her at the heart of an unfolding puzzle—one that promises the kind of scoop any reporter would chase, if they are bold enough to pursue it.
Yet Sue is not alone in her pursuit. Fellow journalist Pete Willis emerges as both colleague and competitor, each driven by professional ambition while navigating the peculiar terrain of the museum and beyond. As the two reporters circle each other with wary respect and growing curiosity, the museum’s caretaker, Clutch, and its elderly owner, Mr. Miggs, add further layers to an already curious situation. With questions hanging in the air and the boundaries between truth and illusion increasingly unclear, the stage is set for a whacky, who-dun-it adventure where nothing—and no one—is quite what it seems.
What Happens in Midnight Manhunt?
The complete story of Midnight Manhunt, from the first scene to the last, in 247 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 6 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Master criminal Joe Wells, George E. Stone, is shot and left for dead in his hotel room. He rouses himself and wanders into the street before finally expiring in an alley beside a wax museum. Reporter Sue Gallagher, Ann Savage, who lives upstairs from the museum, is first on the scene, and conceals the body among the wax exhibits in order to get a scoop. She is soon in competition with fellow reporter Pete Willis, William Gargan.
The museum’s caretaker, Clutch, Leo Gorcey, discovers the corpse, and fears a troublesome police inquiry. He persuades Mr. Miggs, the elderly museum owner, Charles Halton, to help him take it away and dump it in a railyard.
The killer Jelke, George Zucco, follows the trail of blood from Wells’ room to the wax museum, where he confronts Sue. He discovers that she is writing a story about her discovery of Wells’ body, and demands to know where she has hidden it. When police arrive at the museum, Jelke knocks Sue unconscious and escapes undetected.
After Sue learns where Clutch and Miggs have taken the body, Jelke returns and forces her to accompany him to the railyard. When they arrive, the body is missing, having been moved by Pete to prevent Sue from getting the story. After much additional subterfuge, Jelke and the body are turned over to the police. Pete and Sue, who have been increasingly attracted to each other, share credit for the story they give to the newspaper.
Midnight Manhunt Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Wells is shot and dies near the Wax Museum” to “Sue and Pete share credit and signals of romance”. 12 events name a place, across 5 locations.
- 1
Wells is shot and dies near the Wax Museum
Master criminal Joe Wells is shot and left for dead in his hotel room. He rouses himself and wanders into the street, and eventually dies in an alley beside the wax museum. The manner of his death sets the stage for the ensuing media and murder-driven intrigue.
When:Evening Where:Hotel room to alley by the Wax Museum
- 2
Sue Gallagher arrives on scene and hides the body
Reporter Sue Gallagher is first on the scene and quickly conceals Wells's corpse among the wax exhibits to secure an exclusive scoop. Her stunt draws the attention of others and complicates the investigation. The act positions her as a central figure in the unfolding mystery.
When:Night Where:Wax Museum
- 3
Rivalry with Pete Willis heats up
Sue's discovery puts her in direct competition with fellow reporter Pete Willis for the first-breaking story. The rivalry between the two reporters intensifies as each tries to outmaneuver the other. Their professional tension becomes a driving force behind the investigation.
When:Night Where:Wax Museum
- 4
Caretaker Clutch and owner Miggs move the corpse
The museum's caretaker Clutch discovers the corpse and fears a troublesome police inquiry. He persuades elderly museum owner Mr. Miggs to help hide and relocate Wells's body, aiming to dump it in a nearby railyard. The plan adds a layer of concealment and complicates Sue's pursuit of the scoop.
When:Night Where:Wax Museum
- 5
Jelke tracks Wells's trail to the museum
The killer Jelke follows the trail of Wells's blood from the hotel to the wax museum. He confronts Sue, discovers she is writing a story, and demands to know where she has hidden the body. The confrontation escalates the danger for Sue and raises the stakes of the investigation.
When:Night Where:Wax Museum
- 6
Police arrive; Sue is knocked unconscious
When police arrive at the museum, Jelke knocks Sue unconscious and makes a clean getaway. The interruption disrupts Sue's plan and interrupts the flow of information she was gathering. The mystery becomes more perilous as authorities close in on the scene.
When:Night Where:Wax Museum
- 7
Sue learns where Clutch and Miggs moved the body
After the commotion, Sue learns the location where Clutch and Miggs have taken Wells's body. This knowledge rekindles her resolve to retrieve the scoop and track the corpse. The pursuit now depends on Sue's ability to navigate deception and danger.
When:Night Where:Wax Museum
- 8
Jelke returns with Sue to the railyard
Jelke returns and forcibly compels Sue to accompany him to the railyard where the body was moved. He uses the fear he has instilled to control the journalist and press the advantage of his own agenda. The pair reach the destination under tense, coercive circumstances.
When:Night Where:Railyard
- 9
The body goes missing at the railyard
Upon arrival, they discover the corpse is missing, having been moved by Pete to keep Sue from getting the story. The disappearance increases the stakes and fuels the race to expose the truth. Jelke's plan becomes even more fragile as the threads begin to unravel.
When:Night Where:Railyard
- 10
Jelke and the corpse are turned over to the police
After further deception and pursuit, Jelke and the corpse are turned over to the police. The killer's influence wanes as law enforcement closes in and the mystery begins to unravel. The case edges toward a formal resolution, with the suspect in custody.
When:Late night Where:Police
- 11
Sue and Pete secure the scoop for the newspaper
With the danger behind them, Sue and Pete pool their efforts to produce the story for the newspaper. Their professional collaboration grows as they work to present the facts to the public. The pursuit ends in a publishable expose that draws public attention.
When:Following day Where:Newsroom
- 12
Sue and Pete share credit and signals of romance
Sue and Pete, who have grown closer during the investigation, share credit for the exclusive story in the newspaper. Their rivalry has evolved into a working partnership with a personal connection. The film closes on the note that truth and tenacity triumph in journalism.
When:Morning after Where:Newsroom
Who Are the Main Characters in Midnight Manhunt?
7 characters, among them Sue Gallagher (Ann Savage), Pete Willis (William Gargan) and Jelke (George Zucco): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
-
Sue Gallagher (Ann Savage)
Played by Ann Savage
An ambitious reporter living above the wax museum who orchestrates hiding the body to secure a scoop. She is clever, resourceful, and willing to bend ethical rules to beat rivals. Her evolving relationship with Pete adds complexity to her choices.
- 🗞️ Journalist
- 🎯 Ambitious
- 🧭 Risk-taker
- PW
Pete Willis (William Gargan)
Played by William Gargan
A rival reporter who competes with Sue for the scoop; savvy and resourceful, his involvement evolves into collaboration as they share credit for the story.
- 🗞️ Reporter
- 🔎 Cunning
- 🤝 Collaborative
- J(
Jelke (George Zucco)
Played by George Zucco
The determined killer who follows the trail from the hotel to the wax museum, confronts Sue, and seeks to recover the body. He embodies the film’s threat and relentless pursuit.
- 🔪 Villain
- CT
Clutch Tracy (Leo Gorcey)
Played by Leo Gorcey
The wax museum caretaker who fears police inquiry and helps move the body with Miggs, contributing to the chain of deception.
- 🧭 Helper
- 🏛️ Museum staff
-
Henry Miggs (Charles Halton)
Played by Charles Halton
The elderly museum owner who is persuaded to assist in removing the corpse. His involvement adds a layer of moral compromise to the plot.
- 🏛️ Museum owner
- 🗝️ Manipulator
- DL
Detective Lieutenant Max Hurley (Don Beddoe)
Played by Don Beddoe
A police figure associated with the investigation; his presence frames the procedural aspect of the case.
- 🚔 Detective
- 👁️🗨️ Authority
-
Joe Wells (George E. Stone)
Played by George E. Stone
The master criminal whose shooting sets the story in motion; though defeated, his actions trigger the central investigation.
- 💥 Victim
- 🗝️ Catalyst
Where and When Is Midnight Manhunt Set?
Midnight Manhunt is set in Wax Museum, City Streets and Railyard (1940s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1940s
The story unfolds in a mid-20th-century city, where newspapers, night editors, and police work dominate the tempo. Night-time investigations, bustling streets, and the era's technology shape how information is gathered and reported. The mood reflects a classic noir tone of that period.
Where
Wax Museum, City Streets, Railyard
The action centers around a wax museum, with a hotel room above it and a nearby alley—staples of the crime noir setting. Street scenes, the museum's back rooms, and a railyard provide the backdrop for chases, disguises, and tense confrontations. The environment is a gritty urban landscape that amplifies the suspense.
- 🏙️ Urban
- 🏛️ Museum
- 🚂 Railyard-adjacent
What Are the Themes of Midnight Manhunt?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Investigation, Journalism Ethics and Deception.
-
01
Investigation
The pursuit of the truth drives the plot as Sue and Pete race to break the story. Deception becomes a tool as the protagonists hide evidence to outmaneuver rivals and police. The killer Jelke follows the trail, turning the investigation into a cat-and-mouse game. The film builds suspense by showing how the pressure to publish can distort the truth, only to reveal the real story when fact and sentiment align.
-
02
Journalism Ethics
Journalistic ambition clashes with ethical boundaries as Sue hides Wells’ body to secure a scoop. The rivalry with Pete adds tension between competition and collaboration, culminating in shared credit for the story. The narrative questions sensationalism versus accuracy, showing how easily a truth can be bent for a better headline. In the end, the truth emerges through the combined effort of both reporters.
-
03
Deception
Disguise and misdirection power the plot: Clutch and Miggs conceal the corpse, Jelke uses coercion, and the reporters manipulate the facts for their article. The wax museum setting itself becomes a stage where appearances mask what lies beneath. The chase through the railyard and the alleys emphasizes how identity can be manufactured and uncovered.
What Kind of Film Is Midnight Manhunt?
Light in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Light
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A fast-paced, lighthearted comedic mystery filled with slapstick antics, a competitive search for a missing body, and a budding romance between rival reporters.
- suspenseful
- playful
- quirky
- competitive
- mischievous
- energetic
- crime investigation
- rival reporters
- hidden corpse
- blackmail
Content notes: murder, unlawful concealment of a corpse.
Where to Watch Midnight Manhunt
Stream it on Artiflix and Fawesome, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and FlixFling. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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