Night Must Fall (1937)

Powerful

How sad is this?

Expected more

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Remember my parents telling me how great this film was and the great acting performed by all the actors. It is great to see other generations enjoying this great story that was performed on the New York City stage and then the 1937 film version. Robert Montgomery, (Danny 'Babyface'), "Lady in the Lake",'47, played a rather strange fellow who became quite involved with Rosalind Russell,(Olivia Grayne), "Wonderful Town", '58 who lived with her Aunt, Dame May Witty, (Mrs. Bramson), "The White Cliffs of Dover",'44. Danny was hired by Mrs. Bramson, who was delighted with his great wit and charming personality. This is certainly a very dramatic film which reveals deep hidden secrets about each persons mental feelings and childhood problems that some of them share with each other. Dame May Witty, was the first woman awarded the title of Dame in 1918, which stands for Knight in the United Kingdom. A must see great Classic film of 1937

I have seen this film a couple of times, if only for the sinister, multi-faceted performance of Robert Montgomery (Elizabeth's father), but, as someone previously noted, it is an old play and it certainly creaks from time to time. A horrible crime is committed in a small English town; a local woman has been found dead, her head missing. There are no suspects, and the police are alerted for a maniac roaming the area. Rosalind Russell is a prim, bookish young woman staying with Dame May Witty, her petulant, wheelchair-bound aunt. The aunt makes demands of her niece, and tends to be full of unctuous self-pity. Robert Montgomery appears on the scene as Danny, an Irish dandy who is dating one of the old lady's maids. He soon charms Dame May, who hires him on as her helper and general syncophant - flattering her, and giving in to all her petty whims with a smile and a smooth air. Rosalind Russell does not trust him, and lets her dislike of him show, but there seems to be an undercurrent of attraction to him at the same time. Despite her distrust, she leaves her aunt alone with him to visit her lover in town, and the horribly inevitable occurs. I found several holes in this so-called "thriller". One is: if she did not trust him, and wondered about his past, and noted some instability in his personality -- why leave a defenseless old lady alone with him? Why were the police not more suspicious of a newcomer in town, and not more strident in their investigation of him? And, a most unpleasant truth, if indeed he had that missing body part in the infamous hatbox, why didn't the scent of decay (let's be realistic here) permeate that small cottage? That alone would have sent him to the gallows much sooner, as it would have been immediately noticed. So there was a little too much dramatic license here. If you've seen the later remake with Albert Finney - another fine actor who also imbued Danny's character with a very sinister psychosis - you'll find the same stretches of credibility here that detracted from the finale of this drama. It's good watching for the fine character actors in the cast, but not something that I'd think would scare the tar out of you if you examine it closely.

Emlyn Williams suspenseful stage play is given a strong treatment in this atmospheric film. Russell plays the penniless and somewhat dowdy niece of crotchety, cranky Witty, a wealthy, feisty old woman confined to a wheelchair (possibly by her own hypochondria!) When one of the maids of the house is made pregnant, Witty interviews the guilty party (Montgomery) in order to scold him and pressure him into marrying the wayward girl, but instead is charmed to the point of hiring him on as an assistant and care-giver to herself. Russell watches in disbelief and disgust as this snake weasels his way into the heart of the otherwise cantankerous Witty and eventually begins to believe that his cheerful demeanor is a cover for a much darker side. The fact that a beheaded woman's body was found nearby and that he keeps a hat box that is "much too heavy for a hat" only adds to her fears and suspicions, yet she is strangely drawn to him, falling under his spell herself, with only occasional breaks back into cold reality. Russell and Montgomery play a game of mental tennis with Witty as the ball until the situation reaches a fever pitch. Russell does well in a mostly understated portrayal. Her versatility is evident as only two years later she would soar overboard in the classic "The Women". Sometimes, her character's motivations are fuzzy, but she does an able job of standing up to and being drawn to Montgomery. Montgomery is excellent. His innate pleasantness and sunny face mask a truly troubled persona that only comes to the surface occasionally. His interplay with both women, but primarily Witty, is a highlight of the film. Incidentally, in certain scenes and in some long shots, he resembles Jude Law (even on the video cover.) Witty is magnificent in her role as the bitter, lonely old woman whose ice is melted by the new surrogate son in her life. Alternately snippy and delighted, she and Montgomery have great chemistry and are a memorable screen duo. The remainder of the cast is solid and helpful to the ambiance with the possible exception of Russell's rather gooey love interest Marshal (though there isn't much he could have done with that part.) Definitely showing its age and its stage roots, (and clocking in a bit too lengthily) the film is nonetheless entertaining and intriguing for the most part. Interestingly, Montgomery's career as a leading man was not affected by this dark role, yet a couple of years later Cary Grant was prevented from playing one that was far less deranged in "Suspicion" (thus rendering that film's storyline somewhat ridiculous.) Montgomery even scored an Oscar nomination. It's interesting to wonder whether Grant could have gotten one if his character weren't toyed with and how his career path may have changed if he had played the darker aspects (but he could hardly complain about his film success!)

I had never heard of this movie. I watched it the other night on Turner Movie Classics.Robert Montgomery is amazing in this role. His subtle English accent reminded me of Paul McCartney. He is totally immersed in this role.Rosalind Russell is not that impressive until about the middle of the movie.Her unwilling attraction to Babyface finally makes sense.The other great performance was by Dame May Witty. She fell hook, line, and sinker for Babyface.Had Babyface not been so self-destructive and amoral probably Mrs. Bramson would have left him her entire estate.I strongly recommend this movie. It is beautifully filmed, directed, and acted. It is one of those movies made in the 30s that is surprisingly better than many of today's movies, and much more intrinsic in its twists and turns. All of the characters are defined and varied.This could give Hitchcock a run for his money.