Midnight (1934 film)

Midnight

DVD cover
Directed by Chester Erskine
Produced by Chester Erskine
Written by Chester Erskine
Starring Sidney Fox
Henry Hull
Margaret Wycherly
Humphrey Bogart
Cinematography William O. Steiner
George Webber
Edited by Leo Zochling
Production
company
All Star Productions
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release dates
  • March 7, 1934 (1934-03-07) (U.S.)
Running time
 76 min.
Country United States
Language English

Midnight is a 1934 American drama film directed by Chester Erskine and starring Sidney Fox, O.P. Heggie, Henry Hull, Margaret Wycherly, and Humphrey Bogart in a small supporting role. The film was produced for Universal and was shot on a modest budget of $50,000 at Thomas Edison Studios, which producer/director Chester Erskine had re-opened specifically for the shoot.[1]

The movie begins at the murder trial of Ethel Saxon, a woman who shot her lover in a crime of passion. During the trial, Edward Weldon, the jury foreman, asks the defendant a question, which essentially leads to a guilty verdict and a death sentence for her.

The rest of film takes place on the evening of the execution, mostly in the Weldon home. Edward is dealing with the consequences of his role as foreman, and his daughter Stella is upset by the departure of her gangster boyfriend, Gar Boni, whom she met during the trial. The evening culminates at midnight as the switch is pulled at the death house and a gun is fired in a parked car. Moments later, Stella returns home, admitting that she has shot Gar Boni.

The film was re-released as Call It Murder by Screen Guild Productions in 1949 after Bogart became a star, in which he was given top billing, although he was credited eighth in the original release.

Cast

References

  1. ↑ Allen Eyles, Bogart, Macmillan, 1975 p 32


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