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So Dark the Night

Play trailer Poster for So Dark the Night 1946 1h 11m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 40% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
After his doctor recommends a lengthy vacation, French detective Henri Cassin (Steven Geray) settles into the bucolic village of St. Margot for a rest. Checking into a family-owned hotel, the detective soon finds himself pursued by the pretty innkeeper's daughter, Nanette (Micheline Cheirel), and succumbs to her charms. Shortly after the two marry, Nanette is found strangled to death, and Henri suspects Leon (Paul Marion), her ex-fiancé -- until Leon turns up murdered as well.

Critics Reviews

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Clayton Dillard Slant Magazine Feb 24, 2019
Transformation, whether of theme or person, lies at the heart of Joseph H. Lewis's cinematic identity. Go to Full Review
Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com Aug 14, 2020
3/5
The atmosphere of So Dark the Night is impressive, particularly for Oscar-winning DP Burnett Guffey's cinematography, utilizing pronounced angles to reflect a disoriented mind falling apart in the French countryside. Go to Full Review
Ian Thomas Malone ianthomasmalone.com Apr 29, 2020
So Dark the Night is a brisk noir gem that meticulously builds suspense over the course of its short runtime. Go to Full Review
Ray Pride Newcity Mar 2, 2019
9/10
Hitchcockian perfect-crime thriller... elevated attention to characters moving within space, his blocking as psychologically indicative as the vital performances he elicits. Go to Full Review
Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Aug 8, 2008
Strange, nightmarish and original crime film, with visually creative direction. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Aug 22, 2003
B
A rarely shown obscure film. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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nick s @Nick_S Dec 15, 2023 The directing on the whole was good, with nice cinematography, blocking, and dynamic movement. Just a shame the dramatic action was stagey. The storyline wasn't too bad but it's execution lacked punch. See more May 3, 2021 Storyline is in some parts unrealistic and unintentionally funny. characters are unrelatable. Twist is poorly realised. See more May 14, 2020 After taking us to gothic England in My Name is Julia Ross, Joseph H Lewis sets his breakout film noir in a Californian take on the French countryside. The fake French accents are ridiculous to the point of being unintentionally humorous, and reveal this film as a B-movie — more so than Lewis' previous outing. The film starts as a corny unlikely romance that spirals into madness, in a way that didn't come together for me despite the strong direction. Not bad, but not great either. See more Apr 11, 2020 Interesting direction and poor screenwriting. The plot is weak and characters even thinner. See more Feb 22, 2019 Beautiful camerawork. Would be gorgeous colorized and cleaned up. See more Nov 2, 2013 good cult classic pic here and very very noir See more Read all reviews
So Dark the Night

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis After his doctor recommends a lengthy vacation, French detective Henri Cassin (Steven Geray) settles into the bucolic village of St. Margot for a rest. Checking into a family-owned hotel, the detective soon finds himself pursued by the pretty innkeeper's daughter, Nanette (Micheline Cheirel), and succumbs to her charms. Shortly after the two marry, Nanette is found strangled to death, and Henri suspects Leon (Paul Marion), her ex-fiancé -- until Leon turns up murdered as well.
Director
Joseph H. Lewis
Producer
Ted Richmond
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Columbia
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 10, 1946, Original
Runtime
1h 11m
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