Before Midnight

The action takes place at a country house in Forest Hills 50 miles from New York. It begins with Mr Arnold the owner telling Inspector Trent that he is afraid that a family curse may come true. Mr Arnold is frightened for his life as he has been warned of his imminent death. His grandfather died in mysterious circumstances after a pool of fresh blood had appeared on the floor and the house's main clock had stopped as omens of his death. Now people have gathered at Mr Arnold's house on a stormy night when Mr Arnold dies apparently of a heart attack brought on by fright after the same ominous signs occur.

This mystery poses some intriguing questions for us. What is it about Mr Arnold's 35 year stay in China that would have anything to do with his death? What is so sinister about the Buddha incense burner alone when there are other incense burners in the house? What is the item in Mr Arnold's room that is of interest to people who go there to search for it?

There are some of the usual 1930s country house thriller characters in this. The house staff are a housekeeper and a maid and a Japanese houseboy but no sinister butler this time round. Among the other suspects are a secretary and an attorney and a doctor. Be prepared to be baffled by whether people are who they appear to be or not. This is a good atmospheric whodunit from the Columbia Studio.

Before Midnight was the first movie in a short franchise based around Detective Trent.

It's an hour long old school murder mystery tale where our lead must solve the murder of a man who moments before predicted his own death.

This really is the definition of a "Whodunnit" style film, with all the potential suspects lined up, nobody entirely innocent, secrets are revealed and motives become apparent.

The cast is strong and the story is great, but it sadly all falls apart at the end. The big revelation is really quite weak and damages the film.

Regardless I'm looking forward to the remaining three movies in the series and very much hope the writing improves.

The Good:

Charming old school feel

The Bad:

Weak finale

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Cases can be settled with bullet

A very young Ralph Bellamy plays Trent who was a character in other mysteries. A man living in fear that he may be murdered, dies in front of everyone. Trent begins to investigate. What follows is a decent plot, but the slow and ponderous pace and the stilted language make it sort of dull. Of course, the sound limitations of the time affected everything. I'm interested to see other Trent movies. He is one of the most dedicated smokers I have ever seen. There are seven or eight scenes where he lights up and blows smoke in the air, even in a science lab. Either Bellamy had some serious nicotine needs or it was typical of the character. Nevertheless, this works decently in the Dark and Stormy Night category.

"Before Midnight" was done in 1933, before "The Thin Man," when the style of mysteries would become a little breezier, more stylish, and employ more humor. Ralph Bellamy stars here as Inspector Trent, out to solve a very complicated murder. It has that "dark and stormy night" feel to it, but it's done with a straightforward seriousness, without the good-natured laughter of someone like Warren William or the tipsiness of a William Powell. As Trent, Bellamy interrogates like a real cop: "You did it, didn't you!" The story, however, is very good.

I'm always amazed to see Ralph Bellamy as a young man and realize what a long, huge career he had. His first film was in 1931 (stage from 1929), at the age of 27, and his last was "Pretty Woman" in 1990, one year before he died. Here he's a lead, but as someone else pointed out, he probably lacked the excitement of a true leading man and was soon relegated to supporting roles. As a stage actor and as an older man, he really thrived on stage, in film, and on television; besides doing "Tomorrow the World" and "State of the Union" on Broadway, he enjoyed a tremendous success as FDR in "Sunrise at Campobello" in 1959.

"Before Midnight" will keep you interested. What it lacks in pace and style, it makes up for in story.

Good, tight murder mystery that is brief and no-nonsense in its approach. It is a pre-code film but there's nothing here that might have been objectionable at the time. Also missing is the 30's habit of inserting comic relief into a story that doesn't need any, and this one doesn't need it. George Cooper plays Stubby, a dim-witted assistant detective who comes off as dim-witted but not as comic relief.

Ralph Bellamy is Detective Trent, trying to solve a murder that takes place on a dark and stormy (and very noisy) night in a mansion with the usual suspects roaming around. What strikes you is the tone of all players, and especially Bellamy, as there is not a hint of the good-natured warmth or friendliness normally found in most pictures of this or any other kind - just a group grimly determined to get to the bottom of the proceedings. No jokes, no romance, just the facts.

Nevertheless, it is well worth your time. It is an old-fashioned whodunnit that will challenge your own powers of deduction - and no laughing, please.