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:

"YOU'LL COME BACK TO ME...When you're fed up with dreaming of the man you can never get...you'll come back to me begging for the luxuries and comforts I've given you...You'll even learn to LOVE me!" (Print Ad- Syracuse Journal, ((Syracuse, NY)) 26 August 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

Mary Martin: I suppose you think it's a gorgeous thrill dodging coppers, huh?
Tom Mannering Jr.: It's the first excitement I've had since my grandfather fell downstairs and left me 3 million in trust.

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

Jingle Bells
(1857) (uncredited)
Written by James Pierpont
In the score at Christmas

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