Veneração

While looking through the TCM listing, found this rarity. Might have given it a miss, but was drawn to it by the title. The first review I read put me off, but with a cast like this (and again that title) took a chance....very pleased I did.

My introduction to the screenplay writing skills of Karl Tunberg came after seeing "Ben Hur". When I found that 'Night Into Morning' was his original story, just had to see it. It's hard to know if his credited co-writer Leonard Spigelglass ("All Through the Night" '41 ~ "Mystery Street '50) collaborated on the original story or perhaps adapted chapters after the event. There are some sections that could be seen as perhaps, changing tone - but this would also be expected from a story of this nature - people dealing with grief go through several phases.

Films with this theme are rare and often can be depressing, but not this handling. All characters are credible and the script and direction are in harmony. Tunberg's dialogue is non stop and full of character. It's not a film I would have expected from MGM and as you might expect, in the declining decade of this studio, it's a modest production ~ but wonderfully realized by a sterling crew.

Ray Miland (as the English Professor) is as always the consummate professional. Roles dealing with a full range of strong emotions are always difficult. Nancy Davis (Reagan) matches him with a sincere performance, after all, her character is still dealing with her own earlier loss.

John Hodiak (what a pity we lost this fine actor so early!) plays the 'thick headed' Swede who has difficulty in reading both his professor friend's reactions, as well as his intended wife's 'awareness' of the professor's erratic behavior. The delightful Jean Hagen puts in a marvellous turn as the lonely girl across the hall and a very young Dawn Addams adds charm as the girlfriend of one of the professor's students. The themes of a Shakespearian quote, being studied in the professor's class, are used to perfection. Celia Lovsky (Mrs Peter Lorre) has a small part as a neighbor (it was her portrait that was used so well in 1955s "The Big Heat"). My wife also picked an uncredited Percy Helton as a drunk in a prison cell --whose only line is crucial to the story--

Producer: Edwin H. Knopf, himself an Actor, Writer and Director has several distinguished films to his credit..."The Seventh Cross" '44 ~ "Crossroads" '42 ~ Cry Havoc '43. Here, he's picked an un-commercial but vital project and his Director: Fletcher Markle (also an actor and writer) handles the film's theme with care and feeling. Great Director of Photography: George Folsey seems to have been around forever and has such a wide range of top films to his credit...The Bandwaggon" 53 ~ Executive Suite '54 ~ 7 Brides for 7 Brothers '54, etc.

Some could be unimpressed by the professor's closing remarks "Go with God", but this is apt for the films themes and gives a measure of hope where today's filmmakers leave their audiences in total despair. Hope-less.

The TCM copy broadcast in Australia did not look like a re-mastered print, still it's better than some I've seen. Recommended for thoughtful viewing - unfortunately it seems to be unavailable on DVD.

Wow, what a surprise this movie was for me!! I did it mainly to see another example of Nancy Davis's acting ability. Until now, I had only seen her in fairly limited roles in The Next Voice You Hear... (1950) and It's A Big Country(1951). I was not only impressed with her totally natural acting but was pleasantly surprised by this movie itself. I had never heard of it before. Perhaps I have seen The Lost Weekend (1945) too many times; but with Night Into Morning, I felt Milland gave a better performance as a depressed alcoholic than he did in his Oscar- winning performance in The Lost Weekend.

The movie presents the story about a Berkley University English professor (Ray Milland) whose life is turned upside down when he looses his entire family because his basement furnace blows up. Suddenly, without his wife (Rosemary DeCamp) and son, he is left with a totally empty life. He copes with his emptiness by immersing himself in his work and in the bottle. Although his fellow workers and friends try to help him get his life back on track, only his fellow professor's fiancée (Nancy Davis) understands his pain, since she had been a WW II widow before remarrying the professor (John Hodiak). Her hyper-understanding of Ray Milland's character threatens her new marriage, which gives the movie yet another dimension.

Other good performances in the movie are turned in by Lewis Stone, as the English Department Head, and Jean Hagen as his neighbor. Lewis Stone was a staple in the Silents early 'Talkies,' but seemed to get even better with age. Jean Hagen is the familiar character actress with the funny voice from Singin' in the Rain (1952), Adam's Rib (1949), and The Asphalt Jungle (1950).

Perhaps it's the Berkeley locale that appeals to me, but I was riveted by this intelligently written and well acted look at alcoholism. Sure it's treading on similar ground to The Lost Weekend, but this is a much more intimate picture. Milland is outstanding as always, and even Nancy Kelly (Reagan) does well.

Nancy Davis (later Reagan) gives a surprisingly good, sympathetic performance playing platonic friend to well-respected but troubled teacher Ray Milland. Life's woes have caused Ray to hit the bottle hard, but his loved ones quickly rally and offer their support. Heartfelt drama, written by Karl Tunberg and Leonard Spigelgass, is set partially (and quite amiably) at the professor's work-place, an idyllic college campus. Perhaps unintentionally, the filmmakers show that an innocent locale such as this doesn't always guarantee happiness or security, and Milland's personal tragedy leads him to depression and booze. The finale is a bit melodramatic, but the characters are vividly drawn. Not up to "The Lost Weekend" standards, but workmanlike, efficient and quite good. **1/2 from ****

Ray Milland stars with John Hodiak and Nancy Davis in "Night Into Morning," from 1951.

Milland, six years past his "Lost Weekend" performance hits the drink route again in this story of a professor who loses his wife and child in a fire. He starts drinking, and becomes bitter and angry as his two friends (Hodiak and Davis) attempt to hold him together.

This was a predictable movie, but there is an impressive performance by Milland, and a chance to see Nancy Davis, our former first lady, and she does a good job as a woman who knows about loss. John Hodiak is the less understanding and somewhat jealous friend. I liked his role because he acted like a typical male - when his wife or girlfriend's attention is off of him, he becomes upset. I remember when my friend's grandmother was dying, and his uncle by marriage asked his wife how long it was going to last.

What I really loved were the last fifteen minutes or so, which really elevated this film, particularly Milland's speech to his students.

Lovely, and I admit to shedding a tear or two.