Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Barbara Stanwyck | ... | Lee Leander | |
Fred MacMurray | ... | John Sargent | |
Beulah Bondi | ... | Mrs. Sargent | |
Elizabeth Patterson | ... | Aunt Emma | |
Willard Robertson | ... | Francis X. O'Leary | |
Sterling Holloway | ... | Willie | |
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Charles Waldron | ... | Judge in New York |
Paul Guilfoyle | ... | District Attorney | |
Charles Arnt | ... | Tom (as Charlie Arnt) | |
John Wray | ... | Hank | |
Thomas W. Ross | ... | Mr. Emory | |
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones | ... | Rufus (as Snowflake) | |
Tom Kennedy | ... | 'Fat' Mike | |
Georgia Caine | ... | Lee's Mother | |
Virginia Brissac | ... | Mrs. Emory |
Just before Christmas, Lee Leander is caught shoplifting. It is her third offense. She is prosecuted by John Sargent. He postpones the trial because it is hard to get a conviction at Christmas time. However, he feels sorry for her and arranges for her bail; he also ends up taking her home to his mother for Christmas. Surrounded by a loving family (in stark contrast to Lee's own family background), they fall in love. This creates a new problem: how do they handle the upcoming trial? Written by John Oswalt <jao@jao.com>
A really well done piece from two top notch stars, three years before they would be paired again as one of film noir's classic doomed couples in DOUBLE INDEMNITY. After working on this film, Stanwyck gave Sturges an automatic 'Yes!' when he asked her to be in THE LADY EVE. MacMurray and Stanwyck would be paired in two others, THE MOONLIGHTERS (a western in 3-D, no less) and the soapy THERE'S ALWAYS TOMORROW, but REMEMBER THE NIGHT is their best romance, both of them bringing a fast patter and no nonsense attitude to their characters that is both winning and believable. There are some charming Christmas scenes when they reach his home - a square dance, a dear gift giving sequence and some great supporting work from Beulah Bondi, Sterling Holloway and Elizabeth Patterson. However, I think the previous comment hit it on the nose - it's as close to a noir holiday comedy as you can get. Highly recommended to get you into the holidaze...MDMPHD