AllMovie

The RKO Radio backlot gets quite a workout in the peppy "B" comedy-mystery Fugitives for a Night. When movie executive Maurice Tenwright (Russell Hicks) is murdered, the prime suspect is would-be actor Matt Ryan (Frank Albertson). As stooge and "gopher" for arrogant rising star Poole (Bradley Page), Matt is a ready-made fall guy, much to the chagrin of the only person who truly cares for him, studio publicist Ann Wray (Eleanor Lynn). With the cops hot on their trail, Matt and Ann run off into the night, spending the rest of the film as the titular fugitives. Only when Ann convinces Matt to stop living in Poole's shadow and to stand on his own two feet does he gather up the gumption to solve the murder. Fugitives for a Night was the first of many RKO Radio assignments for celebrated screenwriter Dalton Trumbo.