Midnight (1934)

Director:

Chester Erskine

Writers:

Paul Sifton (play) and
Claire Sifton (play)

Release Date:

7 March 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Romance

Plot:

Jury foreman Edward Weldon's questioning leads to the death sentence for Ethel Saxon. His daughter Stella claims to have killed her lover...

Plot Keywords:

Time For Title | Based On Play

Cast

Sidney Fox	...	Stella Weldon
O.P. Heggie	...	Edward Weldon
Henry Hull	...	Nolan
Margaret Wycherly	...	Mrs. Weldon
Lynne Overman	...	Joe Biggers (as Lynn Overman)
Katherine Wilson	...	Ada Biggers
Richard Whorf	...	Arthur Weldon
Humphrey Bogart	...	Gar Boni
Granville Bates	...	Henry McGrath
Cora Witherspoon	...	Elizabeth McGrath
Moffat Johnston	...	Dist. Atty. Plunkett (as Moffat Johnson)
Henry O'Neill	...	Ingersoll (as Henry O'Neil)
Helen Flint	...	Ethel Saxon

Also Known As:

Call It Murder (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

76 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Wide Range Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Biograph Studios, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

All Star Productions

Trivia:

Based on the flop play, Midnight (1930). Drama. Written by Claire Sifton and Paul Sifton. Directed by Philip Moeller. Guild Theatre: 29 Dec 1930- Feb 1931 (closing date unknown/48 performances). Cast: Maud Allan, Glenn Anders (as "Bob Nolan"), Harold Bolton, Zena Colaer, Josephine Hull (as "Mrs. Weldon"), William R. Kane, Jack La Rue (as "Gar Boni"), Tom H.A. Lewis, Harriet E. MacGibbon (as "Ada Biggers"), Clifford Odets (as "Arthur Weldon"), James Parker, Frederick Perry, Francis Pierlot (as "Richard McGrath"), Charles Powers, Samuel Rosen, Neal Stone, Robert Strange, Fred Sullivan, Royal Dana Tracey, Louis Veda (as "Photographer"), Harold Vermilyea (as "Joe Biggers"), Linda Watkins. Produced by The Theatre Guild.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Ethel Saxon: You see, I loved him. I mean I loved him when... when he didn't love me anymore, day in and day out watching him get further and further away from me. I could see in his eyes when he looked at me... I could see he hated me, hated me because I needed him...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood (2008) (TV)

So bad it's funny

Film instructors should use this movie as an example of what not to do. The acting and the directing are simply awful. The filming itself is actually kind of interesting, with some dramatic use of lighting. But with a plodding plot, incredibly long reaction (or lack of reaction) shots, and truly bad acting, this is one to watch with silly friends in a silly mood. It's too bad, too, because the basic story line is somewhat compelling.

Bogart only has a minor role, but turns in the best performance of the lot. We bought the video for about two bucks, and we're not sorry. We kept it. It's just too funny not to.