Night Must Fall (1937 film)
Night Must Fall | |
---|---|
Directed by | Richard Thorpe |
Screenplay by | John Van Druten |
Based on | Night Must Fall 1935 play by Emlyn Williams |
Produced by | Hunt Stromberg |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Robert Kern |
Music by | Edward Ward |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Loew's Inc.[1] |
Release date |
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Running time | 116 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $589,000 (est.) |
Box office | $1,015,000 (worldwide est.) |
Night Must Fall is a 1937 American
Plot
Local police drag the river and search the surrounding countryside in a small English village for the body of Mrs. Shellbrook, a flashy blonde who was a guest at the local hotel and has been missing for several days. The authorities question the town folk, including those living in the home of Mrs. Bramson, (
Mrs. Bramson's niece and companion, Olivia Grayne (Rosalind Russell), is suspicious of Danny, but Mrs. Bramson dismisses her concerns. When Mrs. Bramson's attorney, Justin Laurie (Alan Marshal), arrives to give his client money, he warns her not to keep so much cash in her possession but she dismisses his concerns as well. When Danny arrives with his belongings, he peers through a window and sees Mrs. Bramson putting cash into her safe, but pretends not to notice. Meanwhile, Justin, who is in love with Olivia, asks her to marry him, but she refuses because their relationship lacks any true romance. Justin leaves, feeling dejected. Later that day, Olivia catches Danny lying to Mrs. Bramson about a shawl that allegedly belonged to his mother, as Olivia notices the price tag still attached to the shawl. Even so, she removes the tag so Mrs. Bramson doesn't become aware of it. Olivia, annoyed by Danny at first, comes to feel strangely attracted to him as he challenges her from time to time and even compliments her on occasion.
Dora discovers Mrs. Shellbrook's
During the week, locals take tours of the crime scene. Since her house is in the vicinity, Mrs. Bramson becomes a local celebrity, and basks in the attention to Olivia's disgust. A detective questions Danny and searches his room, making him fearful. Olivia feels sympathetic towards Danny so helps him deceive the detective. Meanwhile, the rest of the household does not feel comfortable being in the house while a killer is at large, but Mrs. Bramson feels safe to stay because of Danny.
One night later in the week, Olivia leaves because she's had enough of battling wits with Danny and is afraid with him in the house. She warns Mrs. Bramson not to spend another night there, either. Mrs. Bramson dismisses Olivia as silly, declaring Danny will protect her. The two other servant girls leave for the evening as well. Realizing she is alone, Mrs. Bramson hears noises and becomes frightened. When she screams for Danny, he comes in and calms her down by giving her something to drink, and tries to lull her to sleep. To her shock and horror, Danny suffocates her and empties the safe.
Olivia returns unexpectedly, just as Danny is about to pour kerosene all over the house to set it ablaze. She tells Danny she came back to prove she was right about him, realizing he has murdered her aunt. Danny tells her about his poor childhood, and resenting being looked down upon for being a servant, and states that this is his chance and he is taking it. He tells her he must kill her too, so no one can incriminate him in Mrs. Bramson's murder. Olivia replies she understands he will kill her, but wants him to know she is no longer attracted to him and now sees him for who he really is, a cold-blooded killer. Just as he closes in on Olivia, Justin arrives with the police. He tells her he called them when he could not reach her by phone. They arrest Danny for murder and before they take him away Danny says, "I'll hang in the end, but they'll get their money's worth at the trial." At last, Justin and Olivia embrace.
Cast
- Robert Montgomery as Danny
- Rosalind Russell as Olivia Grayne
- Dame May Whittyas Mrs. Bramson
- Alan Marshal as Justin Laurie
- Merle Tottenham as Dora Parkoe, the maid
- Kathleen Harrison as Emily Terence, the cook
- Eily Malyon as Village Nurse
- Matthew Boulton as Inspector Belsize
- Beryl Mercer as Saleslady
- E. E. Clive as Tour Guide
Production
Dame May Whitty, Kathleen Harrison, Merle Tuttenham and Matthew Boulton reprised the roles they originated in the London production. Whitty and Boulton also appeared in the Broadway production.[2]
In an article on TCM.com, Margarita Landazuri reports that Montgomery saw the play in New York and “badgered” Louis B. Mayer into giving him the role. Apparently, the studio was willing to risk a flop in order to get control over Montgomery and his desire for meatier roles. He recalled: “... they okayed my playing in it because they thought the fan reaction to me, in such a role, would humiliate me." The actor also agreed to pay part of the cost of the film.[3]
Reception
The film was a critical but not a financial success. The
Writing for Night and Day in 1937, Graham Greene gave the film a poor review, describing it as a "pretentious little murder play...a long dim film". Greene comments that the main problem with the film is that it is directed "like an early talky...no more than a photographed stage play".[5]
Box office
The film grossed a total (domestic and foreign) of $1,015,000: $550,000 from the US and Canada and $465,000 elsewhere. It made a profit of $40,000.[citation needed]
Accolades
Night Must Fall was named the best film of 1937 by the National Board of Review.[6]
Montgomery was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor and Whitty for Best Supporting Actress.[7]
Home media
The Warner Archive Collection released Night Must Fall on DVD (Region 0 NTSC) on December 14, 2010.[8][9]
Adaptations
A radio adaptation of Night Must Fall was presented on Philip Morris Playhouse October 24, 1941.[10] Starring Burgess Meredith, Maureen O'Sullivan and Flora Robson, the program has not survived in radio collections.[11]
Night Must Fall was adapted for the July 24, 1944, broadcast of The Screen Guild Theater, starring James Cagney, Rosemary DeCamp and May Whitty.[12][13]
Robert Montgomery produced, hosted and starred in a CBS Radio adaptation of Night Must Fall on
References
- ^ Night Must Fall at the American Film Institute Catalog
- ^ "Night Must Fall (1937) - Notes - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
- ^ "Night Must Fall (1937) - Articles - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
- ^ "Night Must Fall". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ISBN 0192812866.)
- ^ "The Outstanding Films of 1937". National Board of Review Magazine. XIII (1). National Board of Review of Motion Pictures: 3. January 1938. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
- ^ "Night Must Fall". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on 2014-02-07. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
- ^ "Night Must Fall". DVD Beaver. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
- ^ "Night Must Fall". Warner Archive Collection. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
- ^ "Philip Morris Playhouse". The Digital Deli Too. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
- ^ "Suspense". RadioGOLDINdex. J. David Goldin. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
- ^ "Night Must Fall". The Screen Guild Theater. Internet Archive. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
- ^ "Suspense". RadioGOLDINdex. J. David Goldin. Archived from the original on 2018-07-20. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
- Suspense. Internet Archive. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
External links
- Night Must Fall at the TCM Movie Database
- Night Must Fall at IMDb
- Night Must Fall at AllMovie
- Night Must Fall at the American Film Institute Catalog