So Dark the Night

Released Oct 10, 1946

1h 11m

Crime

Drama

List

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.

Clayton Dillard

Slant Magazine

Transformation, whether of theme or person, lies at the heart of Joseph H. Lewis's cinematic identity.

Feb 24, 2019

Full Review

Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

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.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 14, 2020

Full Review

Ian Thomas Malone

ianthomasmalone.com

So Dark the Night is a brisk noir gem that meticulously builds suspense over the course of its short runtime.

Apr 29, 2020

Full Review

Ray Pride

Newcity

Hitchcockian perfect-crime thriller... elevated attention to characters moving within space, his blocking as psychologically indicative as the vital performances he elicits.

Rated: 9/10

Mar 2, 2019

Full Review

Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Strange, nightmarish and original crime film, with visually creative direction.

Aug 8, 2008

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A rarely shown obscure film.

Rated: B

Aug 22, 2003

Full Review

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nick s

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.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Storyline is in some parts unrealistic and unintentionally funny. characters are unrelatable. Twist is poorly realised.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Interesting direction and poor screenwriting. The plot is weak and characters even thinner.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Beautiful camerawork. Would be gorgeous colorized and cleaned up.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

good cult classic pic here and very very noir

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

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Joseph H. Lewis

Director

Steven Geray

Henri Cassin

Micheline Cheirel

Nanette Michaud

Eugene Borden

Pierre Michaud

Ann Codee

Mama Michaud

Egon Brecher

Dr. Boncourt

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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