Allied women fight back against a Nazi-Japanese superweapon in postwar Shanghai’s darkest corners.
WOMEN IN THE NIGHT
Unspeakable atrocities!
As World War II nears its end, beautiful women forced to serve as sex slaves in a German officer's club, do what they can to destroy the plans of a cosmic death ray.
Quick Answer
Women in the Night is a 1948 American action-drama-thriller directed by William Rowland about women prisoners in a Shanghai officers' club who resist Nazi and Japanese plans to unleash a cosmic ray weapon.
Programmer's Pick
Cosmic ray weapons, Nazi officers, and a cadre of resilient women trapped in Shanghai—this is no ordinary war drama. Where other films go for the battlefield, this one slips into the shadows of an officers’ club and lets its captives fight back with cunning and courage.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Why This Matters
Shot in Mexico and directed by William Rowland, this 1948 film reflects postwar anxieties through its depiction of German and Japanese villains plotting revenge with a cosmic ray weapon, and was also released under the alternate title When Men Are Beasts.
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
The plot centers on a sci-fi doomsday device—rumored to out-blast the atomic bomb—adding pulpy tension to the WWII intrigue.
The action unfolds in 1945 Shanghai, offering a rare look at intrigue, resistance, and desperation in a city caught between collapsing empires.
Imprisoned women refuse to be mere pawns, plotting to disrupt a Nazi-Japanese alliance from within their officers' club prison.
The film fuses lurid exploitation elements—women used as sex objects, catfights—with spy-thriller sabotage and underground resistance.
Scene Gallery
Threat File
German officer awaits weapon from Japanese scientists
Cosmic ray weapon
Potential destruction far greater than the atomic bomb
Shanghai hospital/officers' club
Questions from the Vault
When was Women in the Night released? +
Women in the Night was released in 1948.
Who directed Women in the Night? +
Women in the Night was directed by William Rowland.
How long is Women in the Night? +
Women in the Night has a runtime of 98 minutes.
What genre is Women in the Night? +
Women in the Night is an action, drama, and thriller film.
Where can I watch Women in the Night? +
Women in the Night is available to stream on SassyFlix.
How are the prisoners involved in the plot against the cosmic ray weapon? +
The women, forced to serve as sex slaves in the officers' club, take matters into their own hands to sabotage the Nazi and Japanese plan for the cosmic ray weapon.
