Between Midnight and Dawn

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Martin B Gale Storm was terrific in her later TV days but as a premier movie actress she was out of her league. Very mechanical almost like you could see her thinking about what she was supposed to say or do next. The sappy dialogue in the first half of the movie hard to take. Second half picks up steam but the difference between the first half and second half in tone so massive it's a rom com connected to fim noir that doesn't work. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 08/26/24 Full Review Stu B A rarity in the film noir genre, "Between Midnight and Dawn" focuses not on a team of trenchcoated, fedora-wearing detectives battling the local underworld kingpin, but rather a pair of uniformed grunts working out of their squad car, tracking down trouble with the help of their dashboard radio. The black-and-white cinematography is great, the dialogue is pitch-perfect, the climax is a nail-biter, and the performances--particularly Edmond O'Brien's as the angrier and more hard-boiled of the two (Mark Stevens also does well as his younger, less cynical partner)--are top-notch. Watch for Madge Blake, who played dotty Aunt Harriet on the old "Batman" TV series, as the mother of the girl (effectively played by Gale Storm) both cops have their eye on. Donald Buka plays the unhinged and sadistic mob boss who wants to call the town his own. Surprising at times (it has more than one twist up its sleeve) and even light-hearted at others. One of the best noirs I've ever seen--not to mention a heckuva good buddy movie--and thoroughly unique. Mark it down as a nice way to spend ninety suspenseful minutes--in the wee hours of the morning, or at any other time. See it. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/05/23 Full Review Audience Member an entertaining procedure police film noir film Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member good remake of a 1949 french classic Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member B-movie, second-feature that plays as a cross between classic noir and serial melodrama. As such, it's easy to see how it's often credited with being a predecessor of the police procedural. Stevens and O'Brian play two likable LAPD patrol cops. Gale Storm the wholesome new dispatch girl who keeps their attention at night. Most of the movie deals with the growing and affectionately written romance between Stevens and Storm, making the whole thing seem at times like a vintage episode of 'Payton Place'. But make no mistake, we're in noir territory, and it's only a matter of time before we're dealing with gangsters, their molls, heartbreaking tragedy and small children being held from eighth floor windows. The leads are so charismatic, and the writing so sharp, that it's almost impossible not to like this film. Another little post-war gem of a movie. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Between Midnight and Dawn

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