IMDb > Midnight (1939)
Photos (see all 6 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   1,586 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 13% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Mitchell Leisen
Writers:
Charles Brackett (screenplay) and
Billy Wilder (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Midnight on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
15 March 1939 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Romance more
Plot:
A chorus girl, stranded in Paris, is "set up" by a millionaire to break up his wife's affair with another man. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
NewsDesk:
(6 articles)
Best Films - 1939
 (From Alternative Film Guide. 10 May 2009, 1:26 AM, PDT)
Line-Up of 2009 Cannes Film Festival Announced
 (From Aceshowbiz. 23 April 2009, 7:49 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
A sophisticated comedy classic more (37 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Claudette Colbert ... Eve Peabody aka Baroness Czerny

Don Ameche ... Tibor Czerny

John Barrymore ... Georges Flammarion
Francis Lederer ... Jacques Picot
Mary Astor ... Helene Flammarion
Elaine Barrie ... Simone
Hedda Hopper ... Stephanie
Rex O'Malley ... Marcel Renaud
Monty Woolley ... The Judge
Armand Kaliz ... Lebon - Eve's Lawyer
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
94 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | French
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Certification:
USA:Approved (PCA #4906) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Finland:K-16 | Spain:18 | Argentina:16
Company:
Paramount Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Mary Astor's pregnancy caused some filming problems. more
Quotes:
Judge: It's a confounded nuisance, but it's the law. more
Movie Connections:
Remade as Midnight (2010) more
Soundtrack:
Étude No.12 in C minor Op.10-12: Revolutionary more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
16 out of 16 people found the following comment useful.
A sophisticated comedy classic, 17 March 1999
9/10
Author: Oriel from Athens, Georgia

Although languishing in obscurity in comparison to other great films of 1939, Midnight is a classic that deserves to be ranked among the best comedies. In this sophisticated twist on the Cinderella story, a penniless showgirl (the incomparable Claudette Colbert) passes herself off as a foreign aristocrat to help John Barrymore win back his erring wife from a champagne mogul. If she succeeds in winning this millionaire for herself, she'll have the rich lifestyle--the "tub of butter"--for which she's been scheming, but taxi driver Don Ameche is determined to teach her the age-old lesson that love is better than riches. Not only is the film a delight for fans of Colbert, whose genius for offhand, sophisticated comedy shines here, but viewers are also treated to one of Barrymore's last and funniest performances. Although he is said to have read his lines from cue cards for this film, his performance looks flawless: worldly, cunning, and wildly eccentric. Ameche provides the perfect counterpart for Colbert, holding his own in the dizzying round of deceptions, impersonations, and frivolous lawsuits. This is a sparkling, witty film that should be part of every comedy fan's library.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (37 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Midnight (1939)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
If you like this, what else do you like? christianne3
is it ratings abuse? roguegenius
Remake to star Reese Witherspoon mauispiderweb
A hidden gem.... ssweet6
DVD LoreleiLee
On DVD at Last!!! AnyankaJ
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Palm Beach Story La règle du jeu Catch Me If You Can Strangers on a Train Sabrina
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.