Night People

Released Mar 12, 1954

1h 33m

Mystery & Thriller

List

86%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

50%

Audience Score

250+ Ratings

A U.S. soldier stationed in West Berlin after the end of World War II is kidnapped and held captive in East Berlin. Col. Steve Van Dyke (Gregory Peck) is leading the kidnapping investigation, which becomes more complex as he is forced to deal with deceit, conspiracies and double identities. As Van Dyke begins to discover the truth about the case, he finds himself in a perilous situation -- even his closest ally, his former lover Hoffy (Anita Björk), may not be who she says she is.

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Bosley Crowther

New York Times

It may be the sheerest piece of fiction, and a reckless piece at that, but it is fun.

Mar 12, 2020

Full Review

Milton Luban

Hollywood Reporter

An exciting, beautifully acted picture that is consistently absorbing.

Mar 13, 2019

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

An intelligent Cold War thriller.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 1, 2021

Full Review

Joshua Starnes

VitalThrills.com

Night People reflects the men who made it; quiet, knowledgeable professionals who eschew melodrama and personality dysfunction in favor of just doing their jobs to the best of their ability. It's that very simplicity which makes it great.

Rated: 8/10

Nov 13, 2020

Full Review

Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

Unfortunately, Night People belongs to a long tradition of screenwriters segueing into directorial debuts. Overly chatty and rather conservative considering its subject matter, it is perhaps a film best reserved for fans of Gregory Peck.

Rated: 2.5/5

Sep 8, 2020

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

A complicated but fascinating suspense thriller in CinemaScope, about East vs. West in present-day Berlin.

Dec 16, 2019

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Steve D

Despite some talent the story drags.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/23/24

Full Review

Jack S

An intelligent and suspenseful Cold War thriller. Peck is fine here as a military policeman investigating the kidnapping of an American soldier in Berlin. However, the plot becomes a bit confusing as the film progresses plus, Peck's character's investigative methods do seem rather reckless at times. One weak point: Bjork, as Peck's lover and associate, is lacking in the sort of charisma and intensity that would give their relationship (as well as the onscreen suspense) real spark.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/22/23

Full Review

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Nunnally Johnson

Director

Gregory Peck

Col. Steve Van Dyke

Broderick Crawford

Charles Leatherby

Anita Björk

"Hoffy" Hoffmeier

Rita Gam

Ricky Cates

Walter Abel

Maj. R.A. Foster, MD

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Synopsis

A U.S. soldier stationed in West Berlin after the end of World War II is kidnapped and held captive in East Berlin. Col. Steve Van Dyke (Gregory Peck) is leading the kidnapping investigation, which becomes more complex as he is forced to deal with deceit, conspiracies and double identities. As Van Dyke begins to discover the truth about the case, he finds himself in a perilous situation -- even his closest ally, his former lover Hoffy (Anita Björk), may not be who she says she is.

Director: Nunnally Johnson
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 12, 1954, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 33m

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