So Dark the Night (1946)

A renowned and relentless Paris detective takes his first vacation in eleven years at a small inn in the French countryside. There he meets and falls in love with the hotelier's daughter, ... See full summary »

Director:

Joseph H. Lewis

Writers:

Martin Berkeley (screenplay), Dwight V. Babcock (screenplay),

Stars:

Steven Geray, Micheline Cheirel, Eugene Borden

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Steven Geray	...	Henri Cassin
Micheline Cheirel	...	Nanette Michaud
Eugene Borden	...	Pierre Michaud
Ann Codee	...	Mama Michaud
Egon Brecher	...	Dr. Boncourt
Helen Freeman	...	Widow Bridelle

Storyline

A renowned and relentless Paris detective takes his first vacation in eleven years at a small inn in the French countryside. There he meets and falls in love with the hotelier's daughter, who had been betrothed to a neighboring farmer, but who hopes to marry him and move to Paris. On the evening of their engagement, both the fiancée and the farmer disappear. What has happened to them? Who is responsible? Can the famed detective apply his talents to a rural mystery?

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Plot Keywords:

engagement | french countryside | hunchback | river | anonymous letter | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 October 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

Così scura la notte

Filming Locations:

Rowland V. Lee Ranch - Fallbrook Avenue, Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Larry Darmour Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

71 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[encouraging Nanette to make a play for the much older, but well-to-do, Henri]
Mama Michaud: Love has its place -- but it puts no butter on the table.

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Connections

Version of Lux Video Theatre: So Dark the Night (1955)

User Reviews

Detective finds love and murder in countryside

What starts as a particularly crass representation of French life complete with 'American Franglais' accents becomes curiously appealing after about half an hour.

Once the melodramatic chestnut of 'the old man and younger women' is dispensed with and we are thrust into the meaty matter of multiple homicide, the drama draws us in. It is here that the two-dimensional characters actually work for the film; is it the jealous widower, the protective father or the ambitious mother? Could be!

The acting is fairly average, the budget is non-existent and this movie is by no means a classic. So what saves it then? Well, its main point of interest is its conclusion.

The film's ending, although rather clumsily handled is genuinely surprising, mainly because of the film's date and that Hollywood convention rarely allows the generic rules to be broken in such a way. It's one of those movies that you watch in the afternoon when you're doling it or are off sick

• I gave it six just for the ending alone.