Night Must Fall **** (1937, Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell, Dame May Whitty) – Classic Movie Review 6630

Director Richard Thorpe’s creepy 1937 thriller film Night Must Fall is the well-crafted original MGM version of Emlyn Williams’s renowned 1935 stage success chiller about a charming but psychopathic and homicidal bellboy Danny (Robert Montgomery), who preys on a silly, vain, crotchety old woman, Mrs Bramson (Dame May Whitty), who hires him as a live-in companion.

Danny also ingratiates himself with an attractive but repressed young woman, Mrs Bransom’s niece Olivia (Rosalind Russell), though she wonders if he is responsible for a local murder.

This fine movie is a clever exercise in tension and a superlative acting showcase for creepy charmer Montgomery, bouncy Russell and lovely old Whitty from Hitchcock’s The Lady Vanishes, making her Hollywood film debut at the age of 72. It was nominated for two Oscars – Montgomery for Best Actor and Whitty for Best Supporting Actress.

As scripted by John Van Druten, this piece is maybe a bit theatrical and florid, but nevertheless it is directed by Thorpe with considerable flair and a beady eye on stoking up the tension.

Also in the cast are Alan Marshal, Merle Tottenham, Kathleen Harrison, E E Clive, Beryl Mercer, Eily Maylon, Matthew Boulton, Winifred Harris and Nora Cecil.

Night Must Fall is directed by Richard Thorpe, runs 116 minutes, is made by MGM, is released by Loew’s Inc, is written by John Van Druten, based on Emlyn Williams’s play, is shot in black and white by Ray June, produced by Hunt Stromberg, scored by Edward Ward and designed by Cedric Gibbons.

It is remade in 1964 as Night Must Fall with Albert Finney.

Montgomery also starred in a Hitchcock film, Mr & Mrs Smith (1941), and gave another creepy turn in a similar movie to Night Must Fall, Rage in Heaven (1941). Montgomery was nominated for an Oscar a second time for Here Comes Mr Jordan (1941). He was the father of actress Elizabeth Montgomery.

Dame May Whitty, Kathleen Harrison, Merle Tottenham and Matthew Boulton reprised the roles they originated in the London production. Dame May Whitty and Matthew Boulton also appeared in the Broadway production.

Rosalind Russell and Robert Montgomery in Night Must Fall.

The film cost $589,000, grossed a global total of $1,015,000 and made a small profit of $40,000.

It was released on April 30, 1937.

The cast are Robert Montgomery as Danny, Rosalind Russell as Olivia Grayne, Dame May Whitty as Mrs Bramson, Alan Marshal as Justin Laurie, Merle Tottenham as the maid Dora Parkoe, Kathleen Harrison as the cook Emily Terence, Eily Malyon as Village Nurse, Matthew Boulton as Inspector Belsize, Beryl Mercer as Saleslady, E E Clive as Tour Guide, Winifred Harris and Nora Cecil.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6630

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com

Robert Montgomery and Dame May Whitty in Night Must Fall.