{"id":44897,"date":"2019-09-25T13:10:54","date_gmt":"2019-09-25T20:10:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=44897"},"modified":"2021-01-15T10:04:41","modified_gmt":"2021-01-15T17:04:41","slug":"midnight-1939","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=44897","title":{"rendered":"Midnight (1939)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;When I was a child, they daren&#8217;t leave me in a room with an armchair.&#8221;<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Poster-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-44900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Poster-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Poster-85x128.jpg 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Poster.jpg 666w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA penniless showgirl (Claudette Colbert) posing as a baroness in Paris accepts an offer from a wealthy man (John Barrymore) to be seduced by his wife&#8217;s (Mary Astor&#8217;s) lover (Francis Lederer). Meanwhile, a taxi driver (Don Ameche) in love with Colbert does everything he can to find her.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Claudette Colbert Films<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Don Ameche Films<\/li>\n<li>John Barrymore Films<\/li>\n<li>Love Triangle<\/li>\n<li>Mary Astor Films<\/li>\n<li>Mistaken or Hidden Identities<\/li>\n<li>Mitchell Leisen Films<\/li>\n<li>Monty Woolley Films<\/li>\n<li>Romantic Comedy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nMitchell Leisen directed this sparkling romantic comedy, released during what is commonly referred to as Hollywood&#8217;s Golden Year (1939) &#8212; and perhaps overlooked as a result. The screenplay by Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder &#8212; their second after the disappointing <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=8866\"><em>Bluebeard&#8217;s Eighth Wife<\/em> (1938)<\/a> &#8212; shows ample evidence of their potential for collaborative genius, which would later result in award-winning films such as <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=19222\"><em>The Lost Weekend<\/em> (1945)<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3986\"><em>Sunset Boulevard<\/em> (1950)<\/a>. The performances are all spot-on, but it&#8217;s really the script that deserves most credit, moving us quickly and engagingly into a milieu filled with posers, rivalry, self-preservation, and enormous hats. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Hats.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Hats.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-63448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Hats.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Hats-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Hats-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Hats-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;re never sure where each scene will lead to, and &#8212; like the characters &#8212; are consistently surprised by what comes next out of each person&#8217;s mouth. Colbert and Ameche (not to mention Rex O&#8217;Malley as Astor&#8217;s droll, fey sidekick):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-OMalley.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-OMalley.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-63445\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-OMalley.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-OMalley-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-OMalley-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-OMalley-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; prove themselves more than capable of surviving in a world of extreme snobbery and classism: working-class Ameche draws upon collective strength in motivating his fellow cab drivers to help him find Colbert:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Ameche-Colbert.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Ameche-Colbert.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-63446\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Ameche-Colbert.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Ameche-Colbert-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Ameche-Colbert-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Ameche-Colbert-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; while Colbert relies on both her beauty (Lederer is amusingly smitten the second he lays eyes on her) and quick wit to come up with on-the-spot rationales and back-stories for her newly adopted persona &#8212; including plenty of hilariously left-field (yet convincing) one-liners: &#8220;And yet, I had warning&#8230; Why else should his grandfather have sent me as an engagement present one roller skate covered with Thousand Island dressing?&#8221; This film is a treat to rediscover.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> For a detailed overview of Brackett and Wilder&#8217;s contentious yet successful decade-plus collaboration, <a href=\"https:\/\/thedissolve.com\/features\/movie-of-the-week\/635-charles-brackett-billy-wilder-and-the-rise-and-fal\/\">click here<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Claudette Colbert as Eleanor<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Colbert.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Colbert.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-44902\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Colbert.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Colbert-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Colbert-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine supporting performances across the board<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Supporting-Cast.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Supporting-Cast.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-44901\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Supporting-Cast.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Supporting-Cast-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Supporting-Cast-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Charles Lang&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Cinematography.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-44903\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Cinematography.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Cinematography-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Cinematography-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Many memorably zany moments<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Measles.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Measles.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-44904\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Measles.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Measles-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Midnight-Measles-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder&#8217;s consistently amusing screenplay:<br \/>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;I think [that hat is] a dream on you. You know, it does something for your face &#8212; it gives you a chin.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as an all-around good show and classic screwball. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Genuine Classic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0031647\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.com\/movies\/midnight\/review\/106203\/\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1939\/04\/06\/archives\/the-screen-in-review-midnight-with-don-ameche-and-claudette-colbert.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2oCCFDlWvPE\">Tired Old Queen at the Movies video review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;When I was a child, they daren&#8217;t leave me in a room with an armchair.&#8221; Synopsis: A penniless showgirl (Claudette Colbert) posing as a baroness in Paris accepts an offer from a wealthy man (John Barrymore) to be seduced by his wife&#8217;s (Mary Astor&#8217;s) lover (Francis Lederer). Meanwhile, a taxi driver (Don Ameche) in love with Colbert does everything he can to find her. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Claudette Colbert Films Don Ameche Films John Barrymore Films Love Triangle&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=44897\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44897","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=44897"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44897\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63449,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44897\/revisions\/63449"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=44897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=44897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=44897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}