La morte viene dall'ombra

A couple years before this film debuted, Warner Brothers Studio made a similar (and significantly better) film called FOOTSTEPS IN THE DARK. Like A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, the film is about a writer who investigates a murder. The Errol Flynn film was terrific--highly under-appreciated. However, this reworking of the story leaves a bit to be desired--though it's still worth watching.

The film begins with a married couple moving into a Greenwich Village apartment. The husband writes murder mysteries but wants to write a romance set in the Village, so his wife arranges to rent this basement apartment to give him inspiration. However, instead of encouraging him to write about romance or the Bohemian lifestyle, they are plunged into a murder mystery themselves when a dead man is discovered just outside their apartment. And, because it's a movie, the couple decide to investigate the mystery themselves.

The film is meant as a light comedy and although it's not a bad film, sometimes it seemed to try too hard to be funny--producing some rather forced laughs. For example, while the double-fainting gag made me laugh, it actually was a detriment to the story because the humor was rather low, to say the least. Also, the running gag involving the turtle really wore thin--it just wasn't funny the first time nor did it make sense--so naturally, they did it again and again.

Some things I did like were the husband's (Brian Ahern) repeatedly failed attempts to act manly. Also, while it was a dopey film, Loretta Young and Ahern at least gave it their best. Still, FOOTSTEPS IN THE DARK succeeded because the important thing was the plot and dopey humor was not inserted illogically into the plot. A NIGHT TO REMEMBER is worth seeing but don't expect any magic.

By the way, pay attention to the police inspector. It's Sydney Toler, who at the same time period he made this film he was also appearing in the Charlie Chan series.

This is not to be confused with the 1958 film, the definitive film version of the 1912 Titanic disaster, of the same name. The two couldn't be more different in pretty much every way. Getting that quickly out of the way, there were a couple of reasons for wanting to see 1942's 'A Night to Remember'. Being somebody that loves it when films mix comedy and mystery, many classic examples of this, and somebody that finds Loretta Young more than watchable.

Something she absolutely is here, more than that even. There are films that do do quite a bit better at mixing comedy and mystery, to me 'A Night to Remember' doesn't execute either perfectly and is far from perfect as an overall film. 'A Night to Remember' is still worth watching, as it is a mostly entertaining, well photographed and intriguing film that has a good cast on paper that all deliver in their own way (even if all have done better).

A lot is done right in 'A Night to Remember'. It may not be a "lavish" film but there is nothing cheap-looking about the production values either. The photography is done with a good deal of style and there is a moodiness to the lighting. The music has atmosphere and didn't seem too light to me. The direction is not exactly exceptional or distinguished, but it's far from slack, it opens up the action enough and keeps things moving nicely.

Furthermore there are a fair share of very amusing parts, not of the witty kind but in an endearingly silly and not peurile sort of way. The dialogue raises a smile, is tight and is intriguing. There is a solid mystery that goes at a generally decent clip and is not obvious or simplistic thanks to some neat turns. It keeps one guessing and has some tension that balances solidly enough with the humour generally. Young has a lot of fun in her role and is a lot of fun herself, with a natural charm, determination and good comic timing. Brian Aherne has the more difficult role, and brings grit and charisma without taking it too seriously. They may not be William Powell and Myrna Loy in terms of chemistry, but they do make for a good pairing. The supporting cast are all good too, Gale Sondergaard deserved a lot more screen-time but she does wonders with what she has.

However, a few of the gags did fall flat as a result of being over-exposed to the point of tedium, being lacking in variety and being quite cheesy (like with the turtle). The ending did strike me as rather rushed and lacking in excitement.

Not all the pacing is quite there, with some of the material feeling over-stretched.

Overall, fun and worthwhile if not great. 7/10

From the Title, I expected to see yet another Titanic movie and was pleasurably surprised by this charmer. I love a good mystery story and a witty comedy mystery is always an extra pleasure. This is a delightful little Mystery/Comedy in the same genre as Topper Returns and The Ex-Mrs. Bradford: Both knock-offs of The Thin Man series.

Ms. Young and Mr. Aherne play a young married couple that move into a Greenwich Apartment to soak up atmosphere so he can write a Mystery novel. They find themselves involved in a real murder mystery which Briane Aherne sets out to solve himself so that he can write about it and thereby write a good murder mystery; as he explains to his wife, all his stories up to now have been "corny". It's not the mystery being clever that makes this such a good movie, but then The Thin Man movies are not known for their Mystery stories either; it is the byplay between the husband and wife that makes the movie so very enjoyable. It is the same with this movie, the Mystery is clever enough to keep you watching and the stars of the movie have charm and charisma aplenty to make this movie a real keeper.

Sprightly comedy-mystery that holds up thanks mainly to Brian Aherne's expert fumbling with petty annoyances. All in all, he cooks roasts about as well as he opens doors, that is, not without considerable practice. He's supposed to be a mystery writer, but as a real-life sleuth, he's about as effective as an American Clouseau. I think I detect some subtle spoofing of the many amateur detectives of the period (Ellery Queen, The Saint, Boston Blackie, et. al.). And it doesn't hurt that Charlie Chan (Sydney Toler) turns up as a police inspector. Watch Jeff (Aherne) get decked in a fight, get about every clue wrong, get weak at the sight of a corpse, and generally behave like the anti-Sherlock. Good thing he's back- stopped by gorgeously competent wife Nancy (Loretta Young). As the charmingly inept Jeff, Britisher Aherne is simply superb, and, I would think, at the apex of his American career.

Also, it appears the concept may have started off as a stage play since the action is mainly confined to Jeff & Nancy's dingy apartment. However that may be, the supporting cast is a collection of lively and familiar faces, especially Hollywood's favorite dumb cop, rubber-faced Donald McBride (Bolling), along with the grandly smitten furniture mover James Burke. The fractured events all move at a sure-handed pace thanks to veteran comedy director Richard Wallace. My one complaint is that better use is not made of the best dragon-lady of the period, Gale Sondergaard (Mrs. Devoe), who's often sinister enough to scare the stitches off Frankenstein's neck. Here however she plays it fairly boring and straight. Anyway, it's a nifty little comedy with a good mix of laughs and chills, and I expect war-weary audiences of the day (1942) found it great escapist entertainment that holds up well, even today. (Also—be sure to catch the amusingly apt very last frame.)

Loretta Young and Brian Aherne have "A Night to Remember" in this 1943 film about a couple that moves into a Greenwich Village apartment which turns out to be full of murder and mayhem. It sports an interesting supporting cast, including Sidney Toler of "Charlie Chan" fame, Lee Patrick, Gale Sondergaard, and Jeff Donnell.

First of all, much as I liked this film, I'll go on record as saying that I can't believe Loretta Young was so anxious to get out of 20th Century Fox if this is the best anyone could come up with for her. Columbia wasn't at the top of the heap anyway, and this seems like a throwaway even for them. It's very light fare.

Young and Aherne play the Troys, who move into a basement apartment at 13 Gay Street in Greenwich Village. Besides the cast, this is the main reason I liked this film. I used to live a couple of blocks from Gay Street, and 12 Gay Street is where the sisters in "My Sister Eileen" lived. In the '50's and early '60's, #10 Gay Street was home to Alice Ghostley, and her husband Felice Orlandi. Neighbors on another floor were Bea Arthur & Gene Saks. Close friend Paul Lynde was across the street at 123 Waverly Place, and Kaye Ballard was close by on 5th Ave. They all just walked to work at the Bon Soir, when they played that room.

Tired and hungry, the Troys go out to dinner. They run into a friend of Nancy Troy's, Virginia (Donnell) who acts strangely. When Nancy goes into a phone booth, she hears someone setting up a meeting in her apartment! Strange goings on indeed. And when they find a co-diner at the restaurant dead in their backyard, things become stranger yet.

"A Night to Remember" moves quickly enough, and it's delightful, but probably a little miscast. Someone a little wackier than the stunning Young might have a better choice for the wife. Aherne, a very good actor, isn't quite at home in this milieu either. "A Night to Remember" resembles "Footsteps in the Dark" with Errol Flynn. Aherne was a better actor, but Flynn had a lighter touch and more charm. Alas, I think Aherne spent a lot of time in Flynn's shadow.

I still love the movie despite its problems. Vintage 1943 - nothing wrong with that.