Midnight (1939)

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

With such a winning cast, who can go wrong with Don Ameche, Claudette Colbert, John Barrymore and Mary Astor, the brilliant Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett penning the script and a talented director, it was hard not to highly anticipate 'Midnight' with such a love for classic film. 'Midnight' turned out to be one of those films that met those expectations and even exceeded them, that cannot be said for many film viewings recently. Of all my recent viewings, and actually in a long way, 'Midnight' is easily up there in the top 5 of the most rewarding. It is a real shame that it is so overlooked today and it has nothing to do with quality, it's a fantastic film. To me, what struck me as the reason was timing, with it being released in the year that saw the releases of two of the biggest and most highly acclaimed films ever 'The Wizard of Oz' and 'Gone with the Wind' (two of my favourites as well). 'Midnight' is not quite on their level or scale, but although fondly remembered here it is deserving of more attention.It is beautifully made for starters, especially in the sumptuous costumes and photography that is so easy on the eyes. 'Midnight' is directed with a real eye for atmosphere and visual detail and with an ability to keep the story moving along. The music is never intrusive or too syrupy.A contender for the best asset of 'Midnight' is the script. The script here is brilliant in classic Wilder and Brackett fashion, sparkling and sizzling at every turn effortlessly and the best parts are truly hilarious. The story is filled with charm and sophistication, it is also stylish, impossible to dislike and never hard to follow.Cannot fault the cast either. Don Ameche oozes with charm and likeability in one of his best roles (to me at least), Claudette Colbert is luminous and with great comic timing and John Barrymore was never funnier and gives one of his best later performances. Mary Astor, Rex O'Malley and Hedda Hopper give classy support.Overall, a wonderful film deserving of more praise. 10/10 Bethany Cox

I stumbled across this movie in a DVD store and decided to give it a try because I like Claudette Colbert so much. By the time the film ended, I couldn't believe I'd not heard of it before, because it is BRILLIANT!One of those rare comedies that gets funnier as it goes along, saving up its best laughs for the home straight. Script by Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett -- unbeatable.Top-drawer on every level. Highly recommend.

1939 has always been a magic year for films. I have just viewed this one, & once again this movie proves it over again. Claudette Colbert plays a broke American Woman who comes into Paris & gets into a most interesting situation.First, arriving in Paris, she meets a taxi driver (Don Ameche) who falls for her & she for him. Then she leaves Ameche & happens to wander into a situation where she seduces a playboy who wants to marry her. She goes from being penniless to being a Baroness. Things become quite amazing as she now has a suite at the Ritz Hotel, a chauffeur, & lots of money to spend.This is screwball comedy at its best as the jokes fly throughout the film. Colbert is as good here as in any film. Don Ameche is good, & so is the rest of the cast. Hedda Hopper actually plays a character (Stephanie) in this movie which is rare as she usually plays herself but since the film is set in Paris, I guess they had to give her a role instead. The film even has a classic comedy black out ending. The script has the hand of the great writing of Billy Wilder & is just great.I highly recommend this movie, yet another reason & miracle about that magic year of 1939. This one got no recognition but it is without a doubt another very good film from Hollywoods greatest year.

then watch this wonderful film! I could count on two hands the number of films which have genuinely made me laugh out loud, and this is near the top of the list, perhaps even the top, of the list. I first saw it on television many years ago, and I can't remember it ever being shown since - pity. I scoured the net for it and found it on VHS eventually. As others have said, it is right up there with the likes of 'Bringing Up Baby' and 'It Happened One Night' as a sparkling comedy, but the one-liners for me surpass the anything in those films. What a shame it seems to have been forgotten. If, as someone has written, it is to re-made with Reese Witherspoon as Eve Peabody, let's hope it will make people look up this overlooked classic. They really don't make them like this anymore.