Le démon s'éveille la nuit

This Fritz Lang film has been largely ignored though in it's way it is as psychologically astute as many of his better known works such as "Scarlett Street". In transposing a Clifford Odets play from New York to a Californian fishing community some of the more florid dialogue seems unnaturally heightened but the performances of the three principals (Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Ryan and particularly Paul Douglas) are stunning and the emotional core of the film is so strong that an audience can feel bruised by what's on screen. The blue collar milieu is perfectly evoked, the black-and-white cinematography by Nicholas Musuraca is first-rate and even the score seems understated, adding to, rather than detracting from the dramatic effect. Essential viewing.

An utterly unflinching and engaging drama though not much entertainment for the masses , dealing with a wayward woman with a past , Mae Doyle (Barbara Stanwick), who comes back to her hometown and marries a good-natured , amiable fisherman (Paul Douglas) and subsequently has a baby . Her marriage is lucky but restless , then gravitating towards her deep wishes and Mae beds his best friend (the two-fisted but sensual Robert Ryan) . While , her brother Joe (Keith Andes) fears that his girlfriend , fish cannery worker Peggy (Marilyn Monroe), follows her steps and winds up like Mae. Beautifully Outspoken!". My Guy is Afraid to Marry Me!". They called it love! But that isn't what the whole town whispered...nor the ugly name the husband gave it when he found out...too late!. Livin' in my house! Lovin' another man! Is that what you call bein' honest?. That's just givin' it a nice name! .

This classic flick contains emotion , gritty realism, triangular drama , outstanding interpretations and atmospheric scenarios in black and white well photographed by great Nicholas Musuraca who along with John Alton and John Seitz are the essential cameramen of Film Noir. All of them make this a slice-of-life tragedy that lingers in the memory . Based on Clifford Odets play , it displays a seamy storyline that is exploited to the hilt by master director Fritz Lang . RKO film production put all the force of the screen into a challenging drama of furious passions and though there are pretty, excessive dialogues , it is entertaining enough . Barbara Stanwick provides another of her strong characterizations as an impulsive , cynical woman who marries good-tempered Jerry/Paul Douglas only to find herself drawn to Jerry's friend Earl , tough Robert Ryan . Resulting to be a psychological , dark drama about fatalism , duplicity , pessimism and human passions.

The motion picture was competently directed by Fritz Lang . This great German filmmaker Fritz Lang directed masterfully all kind of genres as Noir cinema , such as ¨Big heat¨ , ¨Scarlet Street¨ and ¨Beyond a reasonable doubt¨ , Epic as ¨Nibelungs¨, suspense and drama as ¨Secret beyond the door¨, ¨Clash by night¨ , Western as ¨Rancho Notorious¨ and ¨Return of Frank James¨ and, of course , Adventure as ¨Moonfleet¨ . This good drama ¨Clash by Night¨1952 with lots of exciting and thrilling moments will appeal to Barbara Stanwick , Marilyn Monroe and Robert Ryan fans . Rating : Better than average , turning out to be a marvellous stylised drama set at a coastal village . This movie is justly recommended as one of the spotlights of Hollywood´s efforts of the early Fifties . Worthwhile watching .

The subheading in the IMDb page for "Clash by Night" calls this film noir. Many fans of the genre may be disappointed. It does have one of the great film noir directors in Fritz Lang and stars two of the genres foremost performers in Barbara Stanwyck(DOUBLE INDEMNITY) and Robert Ryan(The Set Up). However, the style is more romantic drama than film noir. It reminds me of the filmed plays by Elia Kazan like "A Streetcar Named Desire". It even has a character screaming a name out the window. I guess the crime element is missing here but I guess infidelity would fit. The dialogue is up to the standard you'd expect a luminary like Clifford Odets to create. I was unsure if I would agree with the way the film ended but the characterization and plot were so well done, I knew that the ending would not disappoint. I was right.

The bitter and cynical Mae Doyle (Barbara Stanwyck) returns to the fishing village where she was raised after deceptive loves and life in New York. She meets her brother, the fisherman Joe Doyle (Keith Andes), and he lodges her in his home. Mae is courted by Jerry D'Amato (Paul Douglas), a good and naive man that owns the boat where Joe works, and he introduces his brutal friend Earl Pfeiffer (Robert Ryan), who works as theater's projectionist and is cheated by his wife. She does not like Earl and his jokes, but Jerry considers him his friend and they frequently see each other. Mae decides to accept the proposal of Jerry and they get married and one year later they have a baby girl. When the wife of Earl leaves him, he becomes depressed and Mae, who is bored with her loveless marriage, has an affair with him.

"Clash by Night" is an unpleasant drama with a bitter story and a moralist conclusion, actually a minor film of Master Fritz Lang in his career in Hollywood. Barbara Stanwyck has another magnificent performance in the role of a woman hardened by her bad sentimental and life experiences in the big city that returns home due to the lack of option. There is one quote ("When you run out of places, home is all you have left") that defines her mood. Paul Douglas plays a good honest man that nurses his old father, helps his crook alcoholic uncle and accepts the past of Mae Doyle, giving her a second chance. Robert Ryan plays a despicable rude man and disloyal friend. The affair between Mae and Earl has no chemistry and is only sexual desire. Last but not the least, it is delightful to see Marilyn Monroe playing a silly character. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil: "Só a Mulher Peca" ("Only the Woman Sins")

CLASH BY NIGHT is a melodrama that betrays its stageplay origins with some artful but sometimes arty dialogue that attempts to get us beneath the skin of its three main characters--and occasionally does. But it's a tribute to the acting skill of Stanwyck, Paul Douglas and Robert Ryan that their characters come alive with all their flaws and longings exposed.

Barbara is excellent as a woman who returns to a fishing village after a long time away, a bitter, defeated woman still trying to find a niche for herself. Paul Douglas does a remarkably fine job as a good-hearted man, simplistic in nature, who latches onto her only to have her betray him with the lusty Robert Ryan. Lookers on include two very interesting performers--Keith Andes and Marilyn Monroe (on her way up). Andes breathes life into the role of Barbara's disgruntled brother and should have been groomed for stardom--he had the looks and appeal of a major star.

A somewhat downbeat ending resolves the conflict--but along the way there are some very high-strung moments from Stanwyck that she plays to perfection. Marilyn Monroe demonstrates talent in a minor role.

A bit talky and stagebound in some scenes--but an interesting melodrama thanks mainly to the gripping performances of Stanwyck, Douglas and Ryan. Ryan would have made a great Stanley Kowalski in 'Streetcar' based on his drunk scene in this one. He can play a brute about as well as anyone and here he's quite an actor, matching Stanwyck's intense performance with a sturdy one of his own.