Night Must Fall (1937)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

Emlyn Williams (play)
John Van Druten (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 April 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

AMAZING! DIFFERENT! UNIQUE!

Plot:

Crotchety old Mrs. Bransom hires a charming young man named Danny as a live-in companion. Less charmed by Danny is Mrs...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Fainting | Wheelchair | Snooping | Solitaire

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win

Cast

Robert Montgomery	...	Danny
Rosalind Russell	...	Olivia Grayne
Dame May Whitty	...	Mrs. Bramson
Alan Marshal	...	Justin Laurie
Merle Tottenham	...	Dora Parkoe - Maid
Kathleen Harrison	...	Emily Terence, the Cook
Eily Malyon	...	Village Nurse
Matthew Boulton	...	Inspector Belsize
Beryl Mercer	...	Saleslady
Winifred Harris	...	Mrs. Laurie
E.E. Clive	...	Tour Guide

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1937) | USA:Approved (PCA #3252)

Filming Locations:

Redondo Beach, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

"Night Must Fall" was first presented in London at the Duchess Theatre on 31 May 1935, and featured Emlyn Williams as Dan; Dame May Whitty as Mrs. Bramson; Angela Baddeley as Olivia Grayne; Kathleen Harrison as Mrs. Terence; Basil Radford as Hubert Laurie; and 'Matthew Boulton' as Inspector Belsize. The play was produced by Miles Malleson, and directed by Williams. Angela Baddeley, Matthew Boulton, May Whitty, and Emlyn Williams would reprise their roles in the 1936 Broadway production.

Quotes:

Danny: That's the kind of fella I am. I make my mind up about something and then I do it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Car 54, Where Are You?: Lucille Is 40 (#2.27)" (1963)

Soundtrack:

Rock-a-Bye Baby

Amazing Psychology in this Intriguing Movie

I had never heard of this movie. I watched it the other night on Turner Movie Classics.

Robert Montgomery is amazing in this role. His subtle English accent reminded me of Paul McCartney. He is totally immersed in this role.

Rosalind Russell is not that impressive until about the middle of the movie.

Her unwilling attraction to Babyface finally makes sense.

The other great performance was by Dame May Witty. She fell hook, line, and sinker for Babyface.

Had Babyface not been so self-destructive and amoral probably Mrs. Bramson would have left him her entire estate.

I strongly recommend this movie. It is beautifully filmed, directed, and acted. It is one of those movies made in the 30s that is surprisingly better than many of today's movies, and much more intrinsic in its twists and turns. All of the characters are defined and varied.

This could give Hitchcock a run for his money.