MIDNIGHT LACE
US, 1960, 110 minutes, Colour.
Doris Day, Rex Harrison, John Gavin, Myrna Loy, Roddy Mc Dowall, Herbert Marshall, Natasha Parry, Hermione Baddely, John Williams, Richard Ney, Anthony Dawson.
Directed by David Miller.
Midnight Lace is a Hitchcockian-style thriller – which may keep one guessing or, if one suspects who the threatening voice on the phone is, some suspense in how the solution will be revealed.
Doris Day, at the time of making her comedies with Rock Hudson and Cary Grant, does this dramatic role of a woman who is persecuted but nobody will believe her. Rex Harrison is suave as usual and John Gavin a bland presence. There is a good part for Myrna Loy as the aunt. A group of character actors fill in the supporting roles.
The film is lavishly produced, especially in costumes and décor.
The film was directed by David Miller who made Billy the Kid with Robert Taylor in the 1940s and a range of films from Love Happy with the Marx Bros to Sudden Fear with Joan Crawford. After Midnight Lace, some of his better films were Back Street with Susan Hayward and the classic western, Lonely Are The Brave with Kirk Douglas and Gena Rowlands.
1. The success of this film within the suspense thriller genre? A glossy and glamorous production? Audience expectations and fulfilment?
2. How well did the film blend the styles of Doris Day, Rex Harrison, John Gavin? The very good supporting cast and their styles in character acting, especially the contribution of Myrna Loy?
3. Hollywood's idea of London: the visual presentation, atmosphere, streets and parks, the sinister overtones, Scotland Yard etc.? The place for such a suspense story?
4. How interesting and enjoyable was the basic mystery? Were sufficient clues given? How plausible? The effect of the final revelation?
5. Audience response to an atmosphere of threat and suspense? Identification through fear?
6. Kit as the heroine? Doris Day and her style in this melodramatic role? The American in London, the happy atmosphere about her? Her love for Tony? The humour of her encounters with Aunt Bea? Her ordinariness, the impact of the accidents, the voices? Her gradually getting more nervous?
Seeking advice? The fog, the bus? Audiences sharing her fear?
7. How much did the audience get involved in the relationship between Kit and Tony, trusting Tony? Brian and his place? work, support? The reaction to Ash and his presence? Kit and the final melodramatic chase?
8. Rex Harrison's very English style as Tony, dapper? His support of his wife? The irony of the truth and his relationship with Peggy?
9. John Gavin and his 'good guy' image countering Rex Harrison? His help and support, especially at the ending?
10. The introduction of Auntie Bea? Type, comedy, dialogue?
11. Inspector Burns and the atmosphere of Scotland Yard, suspicions? Way of handling the case?
12. The contribution of the minor characters as Manning, Malcolm etc.? How did they fill out the atmosphere and make it seem authentic?
13. The focus of suspicion on Ash and the way that he was used?
14. The build-up to the revelation, the truth, Tony and his menace, on Peggy and her presence, the chase and the scaffolding?
15. How successful a suspense thriller of its kind?
