A Kiss in the Dark (1949)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Delmer Daves

Writers:

Devery Freeman (story)
Everett Freeman (story)

Release Date:

26 March 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Snooty concert pianist Eric Phillips is tired and beginning to fear he's losing his talent. His condition...

Plot Keywords:

Concert Pianist | Model | Apartment Building | Pianist | Orchestral Music Score

Cast

David Niven	...	Eric Phillips
Jane Wyman	...	Polly Haines
Victor Moore	...	Horace Willoughby
Wayne Morris	...	Bruce Arnold
Broderick Crawford	...	Mr. Botts
Joseph Buloff	...	Peter Danilo
Maria Ouspenskaya	...	Mme. Karina
Curt Bois	...	Hugo Schloss
Percival Vivian	...	Benton, Eric's Butler
Raymond Greenleaf	...	Martin Soames

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

While it has a silly plot and is a very trivial film, it's still a lot of fun!

This isn't a good movie to watch if you are the type that is annoyed by plot holes or silly and contrived situations. The basic story is pretty hard to believe, but in spite of this, the film is a lot of fun to watch due to the wonderful acting of this ensemble cast. In other words, it's a great example of the sum total of the film being better than the individual parts. Taking JUST the plot, the film is pretty dumb and contrived. After all, David Niven plays a neurotic and persnickety concert pianist who has become an absentee landlord of a high-rise apartment complex. Okay,....but when he then agrees to leave his posh home and visit the complex and then gets pulled into the giant family-like atmosphere that exists there, the film throws believability out the window. BUT, I strongly advise you not to give up on the film. Sure, it's contrived but the bit characters and leading characters' parts are written and performed so well, you will likely quickly forget about how silly the film is and get sucked into the comedy-romance of the film.

David Niven is just wonderful as the pianist who ultimately falls for sweet and perky Jane Wyman. Both are excellent and the chemistry actually works--even though common sense might have you think "David Niven AND Jane Wyman,....NO WAY,...it'll never happen!".

As for the rest of the cast, they are a motley group of bit characters and supporting actors that give the film a nice, sweet homey atmosphere. In particular, Victor Moore as the sweet but daffy 'Mr. Willoughby' was a delight--so cute and nice--you just can't help but like him.

Special mention should also be given to the director, Delmer Daves. Considering how stupid the plot was, he got the absolute most out of the material and the cast.

So, my recommendation is that despite the score of 6 (it just didn't merit more due to the plot), it is well worth seeing--especially if you love old films and are a softy at heart. Enjoy.