History Is Made at Night (1937 film)
History is Made at Night | |
---|---|
Directed by | Frank Borzage |
Written by | C. Graham Baker |
Screenplay by | Gene Towne Vincent Lawrence David Hertz |
Produced by | Walter Wanger |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Walter Wanger Productions |
Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $821,791[1] |
Box office | $948,500[1] |
History Is Made at Night is a 1937 American
The film has been noted by critics for its blending of genres, including comedy, drama, and romance, as well as introducing elements of
Plot
Irene Vail decides to divorce her husband, the rich ship owner Bruce Vail, after he falsely accuses her of having an affair. Bitterly jealous and possessive of Irene, Bruce learns that he can prevent the divorce from being finalized if he can provide evidence that she has been involved with another man within six months of filing for divorce. Bruce pays his driver, Michael, to go to Irene's hotel room in Paris and pretend to be her lover, with the intention of having a private detective catch them in a compromising position. However, an unknown man overhears Irene's startled cry upon finding Michael in her room. A struggle ensues when the man defends Irene against Michael's unwanted advances, and ends with Michael on the floor, unconscious. When Bruce and the detective burst into the room, the man threatens them with a gun, demands Irene's jewelry, and takes Irene hostage.
Once they are away, the intruder, Paul Dumond, returns Irene's jewelry and invites her to dine with him at the Château Bleu restaurant, where he works as a waiter. They dance the night away and Irene falls madly in love with him. In the morning, Irene returns to find Vail and the police in her room, for Michael is dead. Vail leads her to believe that Paul is responsible for his death, and blackmails her into coming back to America with him in exchange for Paul's freedom. Distraught that he is unable to find Irene, Paul reads in the newspaper that Irene has reunited with her husband and left for America. Sensing something is wrong, he embarks for the United States to find her, accompanied by Cesare, his good friend and head chef of Château Bleu.
In Manhattan, Paul and Cesare rehabilitate a restaurant, with the hope that its reputation will cause Irene to come to dine. The reunion takes place at last, but the happiness is short-lived when Paul learns that Michael is dead and a man has been arrested in Paris for the murder. Unwilling to let an innocent man pay for what he thinks is his crime, Paul embarks for Paris, and Irene joins him. They travel on the liner Princess Irene, which is owned by Vail and named after her.
Vail learns they are on the ship. In a rage, he radios orders to the captain to run at full speed, despite the danger of collision with an
Cast
- Charles Boyer as Paul Dumond
- Jean Arthur as Irene Vail
- Leo Carrillo as Cesare
- Colin Clive as Bruce Vail
- Ivan Lebedeff as Michael, Vail's Chauffeur
- George Meeker as Mr. Norton
- Lucien Prival as Private Detective
- George Davis as Maestro
- Pierre Watkin as Commodore Eldridge
- Byron Foulger as Vail Employee Reading from Newspaper
- Tom Ricketts as Old Man Getting in Lifeboat
- Señor Wences as 'Coco' Hand Trick Performer
Production
Director Frank Borzage's attachment to the project was announced in July 1936.[4] Filming of History Is Made at Night began on November 4, 1936, and was completed on December 31, 1936.[5]
Release
History Is Made at Night was released in New York City on March 27, 1937.[6]
Box office
The film made a profit of $17,450.[1]
Critical response
Dan Callahan of Slant Magazine notes the film as a "patchwork quilt genre bender that stands as one of Frank Borzage's supreme achievements."[2]
Home media
History Is Made at Night was released on
References
- ^ a b c Bernstein 1994, p. 437.
- ^ a b Callahan, Dan (July 19, 2006). "History Is Made at Night". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on June 26, 2008.
- ^ "History Is Made at Night". UCLA Film and Television Archive. UCLA Library. September 9, 2015. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021.
- ^ "Frank Borzage Assigned To Direct Charles Boyer". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. July 25, 1936. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "History Is Made at Night (1937)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- Brooklyn Daily Eagle. March 4, 1937. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
- ASIN 6301915313.
- ^ Cole, Jake (April 14, 2021). "Review: Frank Borzage's History Is Made at Night on Criterion Blu-ray". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021.
Sources
- Bernstein, Matthew (1994). Walter Wanger, Hollywood Independent. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. OCLC 476096270.
External links
- History Is Made at Night at IMDb
- History Is Made at Night at AllMovie
- History Is Made at Night at the TCM Movie Database
- Dave Kehr at Chicago Reader
- History Is Made at Night: Taking a Chance on Love an essay by Dan Callahan at the Criterion Collection