Remember the Night (1940)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Mitchell Leisen

Writer:

Preston Sturges (original screenplay)

Release Date:

19 January 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Just before Christmas, Lee Leander is caught shoplifting. It is her third offense. She is prosecuted by John Sargent...

Plot Keywords:

Trial | Christmas | Shoplifting | Canada | Moral Reformation

US TV Schedule:

Thur. July 16	7:30 AM	TCM
Fri. July 24	6:15 PM	TCM

Cast

Barbara Stanwyck	...	Lee Leander
Fred MacMurray	...	John Sargent
Beulah Bondi	...	Mrs. Sargent
Elizabeth Patterson	...	Aunt Emma
Willard Robertson	...	Francis X. O'Leary
Sterling Holloway	...	Willie Simms
Charles Waldron	...	Judge in New York
Paul Guilfoyle	...	District Attorney
Charles Arnt	...	Tom (as Charlie Arnt)
John Wray	...	Hank
Thomas W. Ross	...	Mr. Emory
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones	...	Rufus (as Snowflake)
Tom Kennedy	...	'Fat' Mike
Georgia Caine	...	Lee's Mother
Virginia Brissac	...	Mrs. Emory

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #5592) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Finland:S

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

American Film Institute Catalog of Feature Films 1931-1940 claims that, except for Double Indemnity (1944), this was Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray's only joint screen appearance. Fact is, they also co-starred in The Moonlighter (1953 and There's Always Tomorrow (1956).

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The street sign on the corner of the shop where Stanwyck tries to pawn the stolen bracelet reads "3rd Avenue" and "West 54th Street" in NYC. With 3rd Avenue being east of Fifth Avenue, which divides east from west Manhattan, the street sign should read "East 54th Street."

Quotes:

Lee Leander: One of these days one of you boys is going to start one of these scenes differently and one of us girls is going to drop dead from surprise.

Movie Connections:

References Svengali (1931)

Soundtrack:

A Perfect Day

An overlooked holiday classic...

A really well done piece from two top notch stars, three years before they would be paired again as one of film noir's classic doomed couples in DOUBLE INDEMNITY. After working on this film, Stanwyck gave Sturges an automatic 'Yes!' when he asked her to be in THE LADY EVE. MacMurray and Stanwyck would be paired in two others, THE MOONLIGHTERS (a western in 3-D, no less) and the soapy THERE'S ALWAYS TOMORROW, but REMEMBER THE NIGHT is their best romance, both of them bringing a fast patter and no nonsense attitude to their characters that is both winning and believable. There are some charming Christmas scenes when they reach his home - a square dance, a dear gift giving sequence and some great supporting work from Beulah Bondi, Sterling Holloway and Elizabeth Patterson. However, I think the previous comment hit it on the nose - it's as close to a noir holiday comedy as you can get. Highly recommended to get you into the holidaze...MDMPHD