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Midnight
An enchanting performance by Claudette Colbert is the centerpiece of an elaborate romantic adventure from 1939 called Midnight.
Colbert plays Eve Peabody, a sophisticated ex-chorus girl who arrives by train in Paris, penniless and devoid of luggage. She makes an instant connection with a charming cab driver named Tibor (Don Ameche) who comes on a little strong and scares our girl off who then finds herself part of a very complex ruse that includes her impersonating a titled baronness and breaking up an affair between a glamorous married socialite and a French playboy with a mother complex.
While Eve gets herself deeper and deeper into this charade which starts to bring Eve a life she could become very accustomed to, Tibor organizes every cab driver in Paris for a city wide search of this girl he hardly knows but knows that he's in love with.
This film features an intelligent and witty screenplay by Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder, who would collaborate 11 years later on the classic Sunset Boulevard. This witty and incisive story is an up close look at class difference and the art of the con that is rich with clever dialogue and colorful characters that serve the story but most importantly, protect this central character of Eve Peabody. Eve really shouldn't get away with everything she gets away with in this crazy comedy, but we're behind her 100% because Colbert makes the character completely funny and lovable. She's also quick on her feet and is never at a loss for words.
Colbert is also backed up by a first rate supporting cast. Ameche is a charmer, showing off all 150 of his teeth and creating an almost steamy chemistry with Colbert. John Barrymore is hammy but believable as the henpecked husband who uses Eve to get his wife back and Mary Astor is appropriately bitchy as the wife. The film even features future gossip columnist Hedda Hopper as a millionairess known for throwing boring parties.
The film features some lovely Parisian scenery, a lovely music score and the ladies are draped in some exquisite gowns designed by costume icon Irene. Again, I would like to thank my good friend Citizen for recommending this one. This film would have become a classic if it had been released another year, but it unfortunately got buried in the golden year of movie making. A winner.
An enchanting performance by Claudette Colbert is the centerpiece of an elaborate romantic adventure from 1939 called Midnight.
Colbert plays Eve Peabody, a sophisticated ex-chorus girl who arrives by train in Paris, penniless and devoid of luggage. She makes an instant connection with a charming cab driver named Tibor (Don Ameche) who comes on a little strong and scares our girl off who then finds herself part of a very complex ruse that includes her impersonating a titled baronness and breaking up an affair between a glamorous married socialite and a French playboy with a mother complex.
While Eve gets herself deeper and deeper into this charade which starts to bring Eve a life she could become very accustomed to, Tibor organizes every cab driver in Paris for a city wide search of this girl he hardly knows but knows that he's in love with.
This film features an intelligent and witty screenplay by Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder, who would collaborate 11 years later on the classic Sunset Boulevard. This witty and incisive story is an up close look at class difference and the art of the con that is rich with clever dialogue and colorful characters that serve the story but most importantly, protect this central character of Eve Peabody. Eve really shouldn't get away with everything she gets away with in this crazy comedy, but we're behind her 100% because Colbert makes the character completely funny and lovable. She's also quick on her feet and is never at a loss for words.
Colbert is also backed up by a first rate supporting cast. Ameche is a charmer, showing off all 150 of his teeth and creating an almost steamy chemistry with Colbert. John Barrymore is hammy but believable as the henpecked husband who uses Eve to get his wife back and Mary Astor is appropriately bitchy as the wife. The film even features future gossip columnist Hedda Hopper as a millionairess known for throwing boring parties.
The film features some lovely Parisian scenery, a lovely music score and the ladies are draped in some exquisite gowns designed by costume icon Irene. Again, I would like to thank my good friend Citizen for recommending this one. This film would have become a classic if it had been released another year, but it unfortunately got buried in the golden year of movie making. A winner.