This Could Be the Night (1957)

Jean Simmons (a school teacher) takes a secretarial job in a nightclub. The two club owners quibble about a lot, including her. Unfortunately, she develops an interest for the partner who disapproves of her employment at the club.

Director:

Robert Wise

Writers:

Cornelia Baird Gross (short stories), Isobel Lennart

Stars:

Jean Simmons, Paul Douglas, Anthony Franciosa

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean Simmons	...	Anne Leeds
Paul Douglas	...	Rocco
Anthony Franciosa	...	Tony Armotti
Julie Wilson	...	Ivy Corlane
Neile Adams	...	Patsy St. Clair
Joan Blondell	...	Crystal St. Clair
J. Carrol Naish	...	Leon - Chef
Rafael Campos	...	Hussein Mohammed
Zasu Pitts	...	Mrs. Katie Shea - Landlady
Tom Helmore	...	Stowe Devlin
Murvyn Vye	...	Waxie London
Vaughn Taylor	...	Ziggy Dawit - Columnist
Frank Ferguson	...	Mr. Shea - Landlord
William Joyce	...	Bruce Cameron (as William Ogden Joyce)
James Todd	...	Mr. Hallerby

Storyline

Jean Simmons (a school teacher) takes a secretarial job in a nightclub. The two club owners quibble about a lot, including her. Unfortunately, she develops an interest for the partner who disapproves of her employment at the club.

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Plot Keywords:

nightclub | reference to casanova | gangster | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

In a separately filmed trailer, columnist Earl Wilson and actress Julie Wilson talk to each other and tell the audience about the film.

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Goofs

When Tony Franciosa visits Jean Simmons at her school, while he is outside the classroom, you can see a drawing on the chalkboard of a movie camera. (Approximately 25 minute mark). Once inside the classroom, the chalkboard the usual writings you'd see in a teaching setting.

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Quotes

Tony Armotti: Do you know anything about the guy?
Anne Leeds: I know he's one of your best friends.
Tony Armotti: Well, if you had any sense, that should be enough.

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Connections

Featured in Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool (2005)

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Soundtracks

Trumpet Boogie
(uncredited)
Music by Ray Anthony and George Williams
Performed by Ray Anthony and His Orchestra

User Reviews

Flavorful Setting, Direction

Quite a bit like the recent "Cold Comfort Farm" (though with a little more dramatic weight) in that in both a plucky, well-bred young woman plunks herself down in a hostile environment, rapidly wins her difficult new companions over and quickly whips them all into shape - without so much as breaking a nail in the process. And much like that picture, this too is great fun.

The director, Robert Wise, has a terrific feel for the nightclub setting and a lot of affection for its colorful inhabitants - always the key for this sort of film working. It's delightfully lively, beautifully paced and works in some fine musical numbers as well.

Marvelous cast. I love the sly, knowing look on schoolteacher Jean Simmons' face after Tony Franciosa, playing the street smart, cynical nightclub manager, comes to her rescue by breaking up a fight in her classroom. Franciosa was an intense, unselfish actor who was great at portraying inner conflict in a natural way that served the storyline, not his ego.

The algebra test subplot (yes, algebra) is a bit of a reach, and the film seems to end somewhat prematurely, but an accomplished piece of film-making nonetheless. Leonard Maltin inaccurately describes Paul Douglas' character as a gangster when in fact, he's merely a nightclub owner who, quite understandably, comes into contact with some unsavory people.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 December 1957 (Argentina)

Also Known As:

Protection is a Tough Racket

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,569,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) 4-Track Stereo

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1