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:

She had lied, cheated, chosen the path to luxury and riches- but when one man opened her eyes to love, she was ready to sacrifice it all! (Print Ad-Woodville Republican, ((Woodville, Miss.)) 28 October 1933)

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

In one scene, Leo Darcy is looking at a newspaper that includes the Headline: "HITLER SAID TO BE GAINING IN POPULARITY - German Premier Said to be Gaining Much Strength In Reischstag - NASIS LEADER TALKS - Thousands Hear Political Speech In German Capital". Hitler was appointed Chancellor of the Reischstag on January, 30, 1933 - exactly five months before the film was released. In the same newspaper another headline reads: "New Yorkers BOTH HEAR AND SEE OVER RADIO - Television Emerges From Laboratory to Enter Home Entertainers Clearly Seen - A.R.N.C. IS SPONSOR - Newspaper Correspondents Witness Broadcast from Local Studio".

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Goofs

When Tom (Franchot Tone) is hoisting his friend Sam (Andy Devine) up from his chair at the nightclub, he addresses him as "Andy."

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Quotes

Leo Darcy: [to Mary] Listen, baby, you can walk out on me any time you want to. I"ll never go after you. But, you'll always come back.

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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

Pre-Code Perfection

Midnight Mary is the story of a girl who grows up poor, gets involved with people on the wrong side of the tracks, and tries to get out. The film opens and closes with Mary in a court room awaiting the verdict in her trial for murder.

Loretta Young plays Mary; Young is absolutely beautiful and proves to be a great actress in all of her scenes.

Ricardo Cortez plays her gangster boyfriend well enough. He is appropriately sinister at times and average in others.

Una Merkel plays Mary's best friend, a cute and funny smart-cookie type.

Franchot Tone is standout in this film, especially in his romantic scenes in which the kisses are long and passionate, the looks are meaningful, and the chemistry is hot and thick. Otherwise, Tone is sweet and lovable as always.

This film was beautifully photographed and employed great costuming resembling both late 1920s and early 30s styles.

This film was made before the production code that censored everything that came out of Hollywood, so it utilizes many racy scenes. One occurs when Young and Tone blatantly talk about the possibility of sex, another when the far from stiff kisses last longer than three seconds, another when Young whispers dirty things into Cortez's ear, and still another when a girl gets pregnant out of wedlock. There is also some abuse shown.

The ending of the film is very satisfying and concludes a great film.

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