Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1948)

Sorry, this movie sucks

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Edward G. Robinson (John Triton), Gail Russell (Jean Courtland), John Lund (Elliott Carson), William Demarest (Shawn), Virginia Bruce (Jenny), Jerome Cowan (Whitney Courtland), Richard Webb (Peter Vinson), Onslow Stevens (Dr Walters), Luis Van Rooten (Myers), John Alexander (Golman), Roman Bohnen (Weston).Director: JOHN FARROW. Screenplay: Jonathan Latimer, Barré Lyndon from the 1945 novel by Cornell Woolrich. Photography: John F. Seitz. Film editor: Eda Warren. Music: Victor Young. Art director: Hans Dreier and Franz Bachelin. Costumes: Edith Head. Producer: Endre Bohem. Copyright and U.S. release 22 October 1948 by Paramount. Released 4 October 1948 (U.K.), 4 November 1948 (Australia). 7,307 feet. 81 minutes.COMMENT: The film noir revival has brought some of John Farrow's films back into focus. Due to a somewhat hokey script (the killer's identity is not only obvious but motives did not convince me) and a discordantly "comic" performance by William Demarest, this one is not half as interesting as The Big Clock, Alias Nick Beal or Plunder of the Sun.But nonetheless, the movie does present Edward G. Robinson, perfectly cast as the troubled Triton who could foretell the future but had neither the power to forestall it nor "change evil into good." Gail Russell is also immaculately cast and, aside from William Demarest (who is usually quite good but misses the bus here), the rest of the players do solid work.

William Irish aka George Hopley aka Cornell Woolrich (the latter appearing in the cast and credits,his real name) loved the subject so much that not only he wrote a short story but he also wrote a whole novel ,with the same characters .People complained that John Farrow sacrificed psychology to the plot.But it was not Woolrich's forte.His characters elude him,they are puppets ,not in his hands ,but in the hands of fate .This is his most revealing book:he did believe in the power of the stars (one of his short stories,one of his most desperate was called "no moon ,no stars"),he did believe that man's destiny is written before he lives and that he can't change it;the users who know about his miserable life remember that he spent his whole existence in a hotel room;he was gay but the only love he got was from his mother;he ended his life a disabled man ,diabetes leading to gangrene .John Farrow modified the book ,but he remained faithful to Woolrich's spirit;in the novel,it's the father of the girl who has got to die in a lion's jaws .Read it,even if you watched the movie,cause Woolrich's sense of tragedy has no equal in the Roman Noir.Only the ending is a bit embarrassing ,being somewhat contrived and adding a wrong track which weakened the intense emotion :too bad they did not keep the final lines between the girl and her friend.The opening scene on the railroad track can rival with the best films Noirs of the forties/early fifties,like those of Robert Siodmak (who took Woolrich's "phantom lady" to the screen) and Mitchell Leisen (whose "no man of her own" is a thousand times better than the pitiful FRench attempt called "J'Ai Epousé Une Ombre" ).Gail Russel,a relatively obscure actress has wonderful eyes which the director films in the scene in the car as bright as two stars in the night.The-man-who-can-predict-future was a secondary character in the book ,but Edward G.Robinson made it a winner;he added a guilt feeling ,which overwhelmed him and his performance was extraordinary all along the way;this part was tailor -made for him:remember Lang's "woman in the window" ,Duvivier' s "flesh and fantasy" or Siodmak's "the strange affair of Uncle Harry",all tormented characters who have perhaps done nothing and who are feeling guilt.A lot of bizarre details (the cushion,the gun which doesn't shoot,the flower under the shoe,the little boy on the street ,the strange music hall -a scene not unlike the contemporary adventure of Tintin:"Les Sept Boules DE Cristal") create a heavy atmosphere devoid of any providence.

"The Night has a Thousand Eyes" is a most engaging drama, with Edward G. Robinson giving his all to the role of a clairvoyant. A wonderful Robinson performance. Gail Russell is seen in one of her best film appearances. John Lund is well cast as Russell's doubting but supportive love interest.The atmosphere created here has an almost hypnotic effect. Robinson is completely into his role and totally convincing.That this film has not yet to date made it on video is incredible. Of all the lesser films that did so, this movie warrants attention. Paramount Pictures [us]--please take note.

I saw this on New York television as an impressionable thirteen year old in the early sixties. It's been on my top ten list of favorites ever since. Not only the expected intelligent, riveting performance from Robinson, but a touching, foreboding one from the luminous and tragic Gail Russell. This is my favorite Russell performance, followed by The Uninvited and Moonrise. What a waste that her life and talent was snuffed out at 36!