From the 1950s: This Could Be the Night

1957 Comedy

From MGM

Directed by Robert Wise

Starring

Jean Simmons

Paul Douglas

Anthony Franciosa

Julie Wilson

Joan Blondell

Neile Adams

Rafael Campos

William Joyce

J. Carrol Naish

Tom Helmore

C'mon admit it... you've never heard of this movie.  I wish that weren't true though.   Well, okay, if you're a devoted fan of Jean Simmons, you surely know the film because she is the main reason for the knowledge.  There are few actresses that I liked and enjoyed more, both for her acting ability, the movies she was in and her magnetic beauty.

This is a rare American comedy for the actress... she did few of them and other than Damon Runyon's Guys and Dolls, two years earlier, none were particularly successful, including this one.  It bums me out to say that because, honestly, it's cute as can be but I am pleased to say it's another one of those movies, given another look years later, comes out much better.

It owes a debt of gratitude to Runyon's world of New York hoodlums and the affection he held for them.  Simmons plays a brand-new English teacher who needs a second job to supplement her income.  She answers an ad for a part-time, evening secretary at the Tonic nightclub where two loudmouth partners fall under her spell.  Everyone warns her about going into a nightclub that caters to hoods and they suspect such associations will alter the good person she is.  Do you suppose it works out that way?

The club has a floor show with chanteuse Julie Wilson belting out a few standards, Neile Adams (soon to be Steve McQueen's first wife) dancing up a storm and Ray Anthony and his Orchestra in cramped quarters on stage. 

The story is not unfamiliar.  She is a fish out of water in the somewhat seedy atmosphere but we quickly learn she is far better for the club than the club is for her.  She helps the blustery Douglas curb his constantly upset stomach and encourages him to dress better.  She helps Adams win a cooking contest which bolsters her poor self-image, helps busboy Rafael Campos pass an algebra exam (did anyone pay attention to the fact that she helped the latter two by cheating?) and so on.  As a result, everyone falls under her spell.(Well, yeah...!)

The two partners, probably frequently at odds during their partnership due to their hair-trigger tempers, are more unstrung because they are both in love with the fetching Simmons.  Douglas has the good sense to control his ardor because he knows they'd have a better father-daughter relationship.  

Simmons and Franciosa

Franciosa, on the other hand, who has one woman after another climb the outside stairs to his apartment above the club. takes a while longer to understand his feelings.  Douglas also doesn't like any thought of Franciosa and Simmons coming together because she's too nice and good for a man who knows nothing but loose women.  And Franciosa doesn't go for nice girls because all they want to do is get married.  But despite the sometimes adversarial relationship between the two, ultimately Simmons falls head over heels (or is that heals?) in love with Franciosa and tells him so.  It is then that he falls for her and opts to change his ways.  We never doubted it for a second.

Nobody was up for any Oscars here but everyone delivered the goods.  In the story they all acted like family and it's how it felt to me as well.  Despite the large cast, it's all about Simmons, Douglas and Franciosa.  This is also Franciosa's film debut.

Despite my liking this beguiling comedy with its offbeat charm, it's rather surprising it was directed by the esteemed Robert Wise.  So many of his films are so big and such great successes, I can only imagine he must have been taking it easy in 1957 with this one and Until They Sail, also with Simmons.

Simmons and Douglas

The movie doesn't require much of you other than sitting back and enjoying it.  I knew how much I enjoyed it when I didn't want it to end.  Of course, I never turned down an opportunity to spend some time in the dark with the luminous Jean Simmons.

Here's a most unusual trailer:

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