One Heavenly Night

The problem with One Heavenly Night is that it tries too hard to be a little of everything, and can't make up its mind what it wants to be. We have the coy, demure Evelyn Laye as Lilli and the tall, dark, and dashing Count Tibor (John Boles) chasing each other around in a mansion, and out in the rain (although Lilli's hair and dress don't seem to get very wet after running through the pouring rain...) Lilli pretends to be Fritzi, a famous entertainer. Then, for a time, its also a comedy with Leon Errol as Otto, who gets drunk and silly with the Count's house manager, as they discuss the wine room and drinkies. These routines scattered about really slow the movie down. Then Lilli and the Count do a GREAT job singing to each other, in Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy operatic style. This 1931 Goldwyn production is made just before the Hays movie code came riding in, and TCM showed it at midnight, just in case. There are some suggestive songs, but no blatantly improper scenes which were so common in movies made at this time. Surprisingly good quality sound and photography. The plot is a little hit or miss, but not a bad way to spend 80 minutes. No surprises in this one...

This movie has a very low rating on here. Unfortunately, I think 4.9, while bad, is still too high. This is really a bomb.

Not because of the leads. Boles and Lynne were both very attractive, sang well, and probably could have acted decently if they had been given anything even vaguely resembling a good script.

But this script is awful, really awful. The characters are dislikable, the dialog is bad, etc.

And there is NO good music in this movie, despite the fact that there are a lot of musical numbers. It ends, inevitably, with the lovers in each others' arms, but we don't even get a final duet.

In short: skip this. There just isn't anything here worth watching.

"Caught in her Own Love Trap... she could not stem The Fury of His Love!" screams the poster that was used to advertise this 1930 musical/operetta. If only it were true... Even though elegantly produced by Samuel Goldwyn, "One Heavenly Night" became one of the big flops of the year and the passing decades have not been kind to it. This "talkies" screen debut of West End singing star Evelyn Laye was obviously intended to launch her on a musical film career in Hollywood, but both critics and audience rightly perceived the flick as a turkey, and Miss Laye's career as a screen song siren never materialized. In fairness to the lady, it's difficult to imagine what vocal and thespian powers she might have drawn upon to overcome the stale script, the so-so music, and the stilted performances of her co-actors (including John Boles and a painfully unfunny Leon Errol). It's nice to know that -- after being bruised by Tinseltown -- Evelyn Laye returned to a long and highly successful career on the British stage and died in the 1990's, much loved and appreciated by her audiences, at the ripe old age of 95. As for "One Heavenly Night," if you get the opportunity to see it... don't...

ONE HEAVENLY NIGHT (United Artists, 1930), directed by George Fitzmaurice, was producer Samuel Goldwyn's contribution to the early talkie operettas. Following the pattern of MGM's Grace Moore, Warner Brothers' Bernice Claire or Vivienne Segal, or Jeanette MacDonald of Paramount, Goldwyn went on to introduce to the American screen the singing British entertainer by the name of Evelyn Laye (1900-1995). Appearing as her male co-star is the singing talent of John Boles (1987-1969), whose earlier contribution to the movie musical consisted those of THE DESERT SONG (Warners, 1929), RIO RITA (RKO, 1929), CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD (Universal, 1930), and several others before musicals of any way, shape or form became box-office disappointments. Though produced in 1930, and released in early January 1931, ONE HEAVENLY NIGHT came late into the cycle to be considered a success.

Set in Hungary, the story opens at the Cafe Budapest where Fritzi Yves (billed Fritzi Yajos) (Lilyan Tashman) entertains with her rendition of a naughty song. Being labeled "The Toast of Budapest," Fritzi, quite popular with the male population, ignores a handsome young soldier for her middle-aged guest, Baron Zagen (Lionel Bellmore). A fight ensues leading to a riot, police raid and Fritzi's arrest. Remaining behind is Lilli (Evelyn Laye), a flower girl at the cabaret who admires Fritzi's carefree ways. Upon her release, Fritzi is sentenced by the Prefect of Police to spend six months where she is to rest in the country chaperoned by some local magistrate of Zuppa. Before leaving, Fritzi visits with Lilli and talks her into masquerading as herself while she remains behind with Baron Zagen. Accompanied by Otto (Leon Errol), her guardian, Lillie, posing as Fritzi, spends her time in a villa which happens to be near the estate of Count Mirko Tibor (John Boles), the magistrate and ladies' man who very much wants to meet this notorious "worst woman in Budapest." He finally does after her horse she's riding on happens to cross over the boundaries onto his estate. Getting acquainted with him at his dinner gathering, with his manservant, Janos (Hugh Cameron) entertaining with Otto elsewhere, Mirko, who has kept his identity secret, finds it strange how this notorious "Fritzi" doesn't appear to be what her reputation describes. Also in the cast are Marion Lord (Liska); George Bickel (Papa Lorenc); Henry Kolker (The Prefect of Police); and Luis Alberni (The Violinist).

Songs featured include: "I Belong to Everybody, Everybody" (sung by Lilyan Tashman); "Along The Road of Dreams" (sung by Evelyn Laye); "My Heart is Beating" (sung by Evelyn Laye and John Boles); "The Goodnight Serenade" (sung by Laye, Boles and male chorus); and "Heavenly Night (When Evening is Near)" (sung by Boles and Laye). Although these tunes are forgettable, only "My Heart is Beating" stands out as the film's best song. With the song interludes being few and far between, and this being centered as Evelyn Laye's movie, it is Leon Errol who gets most of the attention with his comedy antics. Assisted by Hugh Cameron, amusements include one where they try to fix a Swizzle drink of rum through the instructions of a air-flipping pages book; and the art collection sequence where Cameron attempts to keep the careless Errol from breaking an assortment of china and glassware. Errol gets about two minutes to himself, sans any underscoring, trying in vain to place a stamp onto an envelope to mail. Though hilarious by 1931 standards, these comedy moments may seem long and drawn-out to contemporary viewers. Evelyn Laye is acceptable in her role, quite pretty, singing pleasingly and looking almost like Joan Bennett in her blondish headdress at times. Sadly her American movie career was short-lived. After returning to Hollywood for THE NIGHT IS YOUNG (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1934) singing opposite Ramon Novarro, it was realized she was better off appearing in British stage revues and music halls instead. As much as John Boles is a very good singer, he would soon abandon his vocalization for work in dramatic roles as STELLA DALLAS (1937) starring Barbara Stanwyck.

For Samuel Goldwyn's only attempt in operetta, ONE HEAVENLY NIGHT gets by on its own merits during much of its 82 minutes. With limited television broadcasts on New York City's WPIX, Channel 11 (1971-1975), ONE HEAVENLY NIGHT, which had a limited video cassette release but to date, no DVD, did have some brief cable television broadcasts such as on Wometco Home Theater and Showtime (1986), Nostalgia Television (1990s) and Turner Classic Movies TCM premiere: November 13, 2008). Virtually forgotten, possibly due to its unfamiliar cast names, namely Evelyn Laye, ONE HEAVENLY NIGHT is an agreeable little piece of early sound operetta from Hollywood's bygone era. (***)

I was just two years old when this was made - an early talker (me, not the film!!). Tonight, I was in a mood for lighthearted escapism, and this suited my mood down to the ground. A truly charming bit of fairy tale froth. An operetta by any other name. Not one little hint of nastiness or sordidness.

Oh my, why to they not make films like this now