MIDNIGHT
US, 1939, 95 minutes, Black and while.
Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche, John Barrymore, Francis Lederer, Mary Astor, Hedda Hopper.
Directed by Mitchell Leisen.
Midnight is a very entertaining example of '30s comedy which is often characterised as 'screwball, sparkling.' it has great strength in its cast, with Claudette Colbert at her most vivacious. There is also an enjoyable performance from John Barrymore with his eyebrows almost continually arched. Mary Astor is also good, as is Don Ameche as the hero. Francis Lederer portrays a dashing Frenchman and Hedda Hopper has an opportunity to he a scatty Arterican hostess in Paris who goes shopping for hats.
The plot is implausible, is a variation on the Cinderella theme and its coming close to midnight. The screenplay was written by the team of Hilly Wilder and Charles Brackett before Wilder moved into his most successful directing and writing career. Direction is by Mitchell Leisen, director of many of such comedies and dramas during the later '30s and into the '40s.
1. An acclaimed popular comedy of the 30s? Comic style, sparkle? The humour, the irony? The stars? Wilder and Brackett as writers?
2. American studio sets version of Paris, black and white photography, the world of the taxi drivers, American society in Paris? Musical score?
3. The frothy plot, the high society ingredients, farce, mistaken identities, romance?
4. Eve Peabody and her arrival, dress, on the train, the porter and her luggage? meeting Tibor, the rapport between the two, his helping her in job hunting, the collage of job seeking? His offer, her running away? Discovering the soiree, using her pawn ticket? George and his eyebrows? Stephanie and her letting the card? Going to play Bridge, interaction with the group, her losses, George putting money in her purse? Her manoeuvres? Jacques going back to the hotel? Finding rooms, luggage, chauffeur? The deal with George to lure Jacques away from Helene? Her sequences with Jacques and his falling in love with her? The trip to the hat shop, buying dresses, going to the country estate with Jacques? The arrival, social graces, meals? Marcel and his wanting to expose Eve? Tibor and his arrival, declaration of love? Saving the situation? The night and their argument, the next morning? Breakfast and the story about Francie being ill? Her telling the group that Tibor was mad and their reacting accordingly? The divorce court, the happy ending? Love, possibilities, change?
5. Tibor as the gracious taxi driver, helping Eve search for jobs, offering her accommodation? Losing her, giving the money to the cabbies for the search? The truth and his reaction, his arrival just in time, carrying off gracious husband and the count, helped by George, with Eve in the evening, the morning, the invention about Francie, the phone call, his trying to persuade then of the truth and they believing he was mad? The divorce court, his reaction, love for Eve?
6. John Barrymore's style as George, his ability to look askance, working out what happened to Eve, her purse, giving her the money, the apartment? The deal? Their collaboration and timing? His love for Helene? The comic sequence with him on the phone as the child and mother? Reconciliation?
7. Helene, her love for her husband, the infatuation with Jacques? With Stephanie, at Simone's? Making inquiries? Her jealousy, Marcel and the expose? The reconciliation?
8. Marcel, insinuating himself to parties, the gossip, the expose?
9. Jacques and his wealth, the man about town, relationship with Helene, falling in love with Eve? Enjoying her company? Bewildered, in court?
10. Stephanie, her soirees, not knowing what pieces were being played, hats ? and the irony of Hedda Hopper playing the role?
11. High society and its style, wealth, meals, social gatherings? The contrast with the world of the taxi drivers?
12. A frothy blend of intrigue, innocence and romance?
