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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 02/24/2019
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 08/14/2020
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 04/29/2020
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 03/02/2019
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 08/08/2008
Strange, nightmarish and original crime film, with visually creative direction. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 08/22/2003
B
A rarely shown obscure film. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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nick s @Nick_S 12/15/2023 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 05/03/2021 Storyline is in some parts unrealistic and unintentionally funny. characters are unrelatable. Twist is poorly realised. See more 05/14/2020 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 04/11/2020 Interesting direction and poor screenwriting. The plot is weak and characters even thinner. See more 02/22/2019 Beautiful camerawork. Would be gorgeous colorized and cleaned up. See more 11/02/2013 good cult classic pic here and very very noir See more Read all reviews
So Dark the Night

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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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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So Dark the Night

So Dark the Night (1946) So Dark the Night (1946) View more photos

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