The Horn Blows at Midnight (1945)
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- Passed
- 1h 18min
- Comedy, Fantasy
- 28 Apr 1945 (USA)
- Movie
A trumpet player in a radio orchestra falls asleep during a commercial and dreams he's Athanael, an angel deputized to blow the Last Trumpet at exactly midnight on Earth, thus marking the end of the world.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Award:
- 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Jack Benny | ... |
Athanael
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| Alexis Smith | ... |
Elizabeth
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| Dolores Moran | ... |
Violinist / Fran Blackstone
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| Allyn Joslyn | ... |
Second Trumpeter / Osidro
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| Reginald Gardiner | ... |
Composer / Archibald 'Archie' Dexter
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| Guy Kibbee | ... |
Radio Director / The Chief
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| John Alexander | ... |
First Trumpeter / Doremus
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| Franklin Pangborn | ... |
Radio Engineer / Sloan - House Detective
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| Margaret Dumont | ... |
Mme. Traviata / Miss Rodholder
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| Robert Blake | ... |
Junior Poplinski
(as Bobby Blake)
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| Ethel Griffies | ... |
Lady Stover
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| Paul Harvey | ... |
Hotel Manager Thompson
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| Mike Mazurki | ... |
Bass Player / Humphrey Rafferty
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| Truman Bradley | ... |
Radio Announcer
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Sailor Vincent | ... |
Clerk (scenesDeleted)
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| Betty Alexander | ... |
Angel (uncredited)
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| Murray Alper | ... |
Tony - the Hotel Bell Captain (uncredited)
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| Jimmy Ames | ... |
Tarzola - the Rocket Man (uncredited)
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| Joy Barlow | ... |
Angel (uncredited)
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| Oliver Blake | ... |
Heavenly Photographer (uncredited)
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| Monte Blue | ... |
The Chef (uncredited)
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| Buster Brodie | ... |
Little Bald Man at Carnival (uncredited)
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John Brown | ... |
Lew Poplinski - Waiter (uncredited)
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Tom Brown | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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| James Burke | ... |
Cliffside Park Policeman (uncredited)
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James Conaty | ... |
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
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| Dudley Dickerson | ... |
Porter (uncredited)
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| Johnny Duncan | ... |
Jitterbug Dancer (uncredited)
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Charles Ferguson | ... |
Passerby on Street (uncredited)
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Tom Ferrandini | ... |
Club Patron (uncredited)
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Jack J. Ford | ... |
Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
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Jack George | ... |
Trumpet Player (uncredited)
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| Carl Harbaugh | ... |
Tipsy Gent (uncredited)
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Joe Herrera | ... |
Doorman (uncredited)
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| Earle Hodgins | ... |
Barker (uncredited)
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Pat Hogan | ... |
Girl in Concession (uncredited)
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Gene Holland | ... |
Kid (uncredited)
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Sondra Johnson | ... |
Nurse (uncredited)
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Charles Jordan | ... |
Sign Carrying Angel on Street (uncredited)
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| Kenner G. Kemp | ... |
Angel (uncredited)
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| Isabel La Mal | ... |
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
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| Richard Lane | ... |
Furness - Radio Announcer (uncredited)
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| Carl M. Leviness | ... |
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
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Jimmy Luke | ... |
Tubby (uncredited)
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| Sidney Miller | ... |
Trumpet Player (uncredited)
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Harry Hays Morgan | ... |
Headwaiter (uncredited)
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| Edmund Mortimer | ... |
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
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| Jack Mower | ... |
Head Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
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| Jack Norton | ... |
Drunk in Hotel Room (uncredited)
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| Patrick O'Moore | ... |
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
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Tommy O'Neill | ... |
Messenger (uncredited)
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| Virginia Patton | ... |
Party Girl (uncredited)
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| Francis Pierlot | ... |
Heavenly Personnel Manager Mercurius (uncredited)
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Larry Rio | ... |
Slippy (uncredited)
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| Harry Rosenthal | ... |
Sherman Starr (uncredited)
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| Loretta Russell | ... |
Club Patron (uncredited)
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Harry Seymour | ... |
Ticket Taker (uncredited)
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| Anabel Shaw | ... |
Telephone Operator (uncredited)
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Eddie Small | ... |
Skinny (uncredited)
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Red Stanley | ... |
Trombonist in Swing Band (uncredited)
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| Larry Steers | ... |
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
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| Jack Stoney | ... |
Club Bouncer (uncredited)
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Buddy Swan | ... |
Kid (uncredited)
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Dink Trout | ... |
Trumpet Player (uncredited)
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| Jean Veloz | ... |
Shadowland Dancer (uncredited)
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Eric Wilton | ... |
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
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| Joan Winfield | ... |
Party Girl (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Raoul Walsh | ||
Written by
| Sam Hellman | ... | (screen play) & |
| James V. Kern | ... | (screen play) |
| Aubrey Wisberg | ... | (based on an idea by) |
Produced by
| Mark Hellinger | ... | producer |
| Jack L. Warner | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Franz Waxman | ||
| Carl W. Stalling | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| Sidney Hickox | ... | director of photography (as Sid Hickox) |
Editing by
| Irene Morra | ... | film editor |
Art Direction by
| Hugh Reticker | ||
Set Decoration by
| Clarence Steensen | ... | (set decorations) |
Costume Design by
| Milo Anderson | ... | (gowns) |
Makeup Department
| Perc Westmore | ... | makeup artist |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| James McMahon | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Stanley Jones | ... | sound (as Stanley S. Jones) |
| Gerald W. Alexander | ... | sound (uncredited) |
| Charles David Forrest | ... | sound (uncredited) |
| Robert G. Wayne | ... | sound (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Lawrence W. Butler | ... | special effects (as Lawrence Butler) |
| Robert Burks | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
| Paul Detlefsen | ... | matte paintings (uncredited) |
| Hans F. Koenekamp | ... | miniatures (uncredited) |
| Warren Lynch | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
| William C. McGann | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Chesley Bonestell | ... | matte paintings (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Sailor Vincent | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Mike Joyce | ... | second camera operator (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Eugene Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Leo F. Forbstein | ... | musical director |
| Leonid Raab | ... | orchestral arrangements |
| William Lava | ... | composer: additional music (uncredited) |
| Carl W. Stalling | ... | composer: additional music (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Hugh Cummings | ... | dialogue director |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Warner Bros. (1945) (United States) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1945) (Canada) (theatrical) (as Warner Brothers Pictures, Ltd.)
- Warner Brothers Pictures (1948) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Associated Artists Productions (AAP) (1956) (United States) (tv)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Archive Collection (2013) (United States) (DVD)
- 375 Media (2017) (Germany) (DVD)
- Cargo Records (2017) (Germany) (DVD)
- Endless Classics (2017) (Germany) (DVD) (label)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Falling asleep during the Paradise Coffee ("The Coffee that Makes You Sleep") Program, the band's third trumpeter dreams he's Athanael, an angel deputized to blow the Last Trumpet at exactly midnight on Earth. But Osidro and Doremus, two fallen angels enjoying the physical pleasures of an earthly existence, try to steal Athanael's trumpet, enlisting the aid of suave jewel thief Archie Dexter. Athanael fumbles his first try when he saves Archie's accomplice, Fran, from suicide. His second chance seems doomed when he's forced to leave his trumpet as security for a meal he can't pay for. But he gets it back just in time for a final confrontation with his desperate adversaries, dangling with them from the roof, only seconds from Midnight.
Written by Paul Penna |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Benny's from Heaven and the laughs are out of this world!!! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $1,831,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | For the rest of his career Jack Benny used the failure of this movie as one of his best jokes. See more » |
| Goofs | When Fran Blackstone grabs hold of the rooftop wall in order to climb atop and jump, the entire wall wobbles under her weight. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Projectionist (1970). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Swing Low, Sweet Chariot See more » |
| Quotes |
Athanael:
What are they supposed to be doing? Maitre d': I wouldn't know, sir; they call it dancing. Athanael: I must tell St. Vitus about this. See more » |