Midnight Mary (1933)

An abused orphan sinks into a life of crime.

Director:

William A. Wellman (as William Wellman)

Writers:

Anita Loos (original story), Gene Markey (screen play)

Stars:

Loretta Young, Franchot Tone, Ricardo Cortez

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Loretta Young	...	Mary Martin
Ricardo Cortez	...	Leo Darcy
Franchot Tone	...	Tom Mannering Jr.
Andy Devine	...	Sam Travers
Una Merkel	...	Bunny
Frank Conroy	...	District Attorney
Warren Hymer	...	Angelo
Ivan F. Simpson	...	Tindle (as Ivan Simpson)
Harold Huber	...	Puggy
Sandy Roth	...	Blimp
Martha Sleeper	...	Barbara Mannering
Charley Grapewin	...	Clerk (as Charles Grapewin)
Halliwell Hobbes	...	Churchill
Robert Emmett O'Connor	...	Charlie - the Cop

Storyline

A young woman is on trial for murder. In flashback, we learn of her struggles to overcome poverty as a teenager -- a mistaken arrest and prison term for shoplifting and lack of employment lead to involvement with gangsters. In a brothel, she meets a young lawyer, scion of a wealthy and prestigious family, who falls for her and helps her turn around her life. But her past catches up with her, and she must face the music rather than cause him scandal.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | unemployment | self sacrifice | rehabilitation | reform school | 

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Taglines:

MAGIC ENCHANTRESS...mysterious as the night that cloaks her...a daughter of Venus...who comes out with the stars...so young, so alluring...men cannot resist the spell of her beauty...! (Print ad Los Angeles Times August 3 ,1933)

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film received its initial television broadcast in Altoona PA Wednesday 6 February 1957 on WFBG (Channel 10), followed by Minneapolis 31 March 1957 on KMGM (Channel 9), by Los Angeles 29 May 1957 on KTTV (Channel 11), by Chicago 10 August 1957 on WBBM (Channel 2), by Durham NC 5 November 1957 on WTVD (Channel 11), by Tucson 30 November 1957 on KVOA (Channel 4), by Norfolk VA 4 December 1957 on WTAR (Channel 3), by Honolulu 24 January 1958 on KHVH (Channel 13) and by Philadelphia 30 January 1958 on WFIL (Channel 6).

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Goofs

After Tom gets Sam out of the chair at the club, checks his coat and hat, and walks him to the stairs, the boom microphone is clearly visible - reflected in a mirror, upper right of the frame.

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Quotes

Leo Darcy: Listen, no more ducking cops, no more Bronx hideouts. Why, it's gonna be happy days in Dixie for all of us. What do you say, honey, huh? Oh, come on, will ya?

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Connections

Featured in Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood (2008)

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Soundtracks

Please, Mr. Hemingway
played for dancing at gangsters' party

User Reviews

William Wellman Pre-Code

A ravishingly beautiful 20-year-old Loretta Young is "Midnight Mary" in this 1933 melodrama directed by William Wellman. The film also stars Ricardo Cortez, Franchot Tone, and Una Merkel. Young, on trial for murder of Cortez character, a gangster, is waiting for the jury to come in. She tells her story in flashback. Down on her luck, recently out of prison, she meets Cortez, becomes his girl and gets the easy life. One night, during a shooting, the wealthy Tone helps her escape. After she receives secretarial training, he gets her a job in his law firm. But her past catches up with her.

Loretta Young is stunning and her clothes are fantastic. She gives a very good performance. Since it's a pre-code drama, there's talk of sex, suggestive scenes, and the women get slapped around.

Very entertaining and absorbing, with Young a class act all the way.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 June 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lady of the Night

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

74 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1