Night Patrol

Melvin White, an inept policeman, is demoted to night patrol by his pathologically lying captain who is infamous for flatulence. The demotion sets White on a rough night shift that exposes him to the film's humor and misadventures. This change kicks off the main events of the story.

White's partner Kent Lane has been a police officer for ten years and thrives on chasing women in the back of his police car. Lane's roguish, sexual bravado contrasts with White's bumbling innocence and underlines the buddy-comedy dynamic.

Fellow officer Sue Perman is attracted to White, but White misreads her hints and treats her as only a buddy. Her unrequited interest adds romantic tension that complicates White's relationships as the story unfolds.

By day White remains a cop, but by night he performs as the Unknown Comic, a stand-up persona wearing a paper bag with holes for eyes and mouth. The routine becomes White's escape and a secret source of fame. His double life sets up the conflict when his alter ego becomes a target.

White's popularity grows and a talent agent seeks him out, offering a path to greater success. Edith Hutton, a fan, is attracted to the Unknown Comic and is even willing to leave her boyfriend for him. White remains oblivious to her interest, continuing his double life.

White also has sessions with a psychiatrist, whose professional interest in his double life adds a meta layer to the comedy. The psychiatrist's role foreshadows the later revelation of impersonations.

A thief begins to rob bars at gunpoint while disguised as the Unknown Comic. The impersonation threatens White's anonymity and endangers his reputation. No one knows the thief's true identity, including White himself.

The captain harbors a growing suspicion that White is the impersonator, though there is no proof yet. This tension forces White to prove his innocence while still maintaining his undercover pursuit.

To clear his name, White teams with Lane to track down the impersonator, while he is supposed to perform at the venue as the Unknown Comic. He hides his dual identity by coordinating a risky stakeout during the very show he would be headlining. The chase through the venue drives the plot toward its climax.

An impersonator arrives on stage to perform, while another impersonator sneaks in to steal money. The competing impersonations create confusion on stage and threaten White's cover. White and Lane pursue the thieves through the venue.

White and Lane close in on the thief, leading to a Western-film-style gun duel. The duel ends with White as the victor and the thief unmasked. The chaotic confrontation provides a hard-won sense of justice for White.

The first impersonator is revealed to be White's psychiatrist, who confesses to wanting to get rich by taking White's place. The unmasking exposes a personal betrayal behind the impersonation.

White then confronts the second impersonator, who is Sue Perman. The confrontation reveals Perman as the other impersonator and clarifies her motive.

Perman had used a recording of White's voice to protect him from arrest. This twist shows how Perman tried to shield White while masking her own role.

In the final twist, Perman and White consummate their complicated relationship at White's apartment. The film closes on their intimate, controversial resolution.