Night Song

January. 20,1948      NR
Rating:
6.4
Trailer Synopsis Cast

A socialite pretends to be poor and blind in her plan to help a blinded pianist.

Dana Andrews as  Dan Evans
Merle Oberon as  Cathy Mallory
Ethel Barrymore as  Miss Willey
Hoagy Carmichael as  Chick Morgan
Arthur Rubinstein as  Self
Eugene Ormandy as  Eugene Ormandy
Jacqueline White as  Connie
Donald Curtis as  George
Walter Reed as  Jimmy

Reviews

Claysaba
1948/01/20

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

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CrawlerChunky
1948/01/21

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

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Chirphymium
1948/01/22

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

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WillSushyMedia
1948/01/23

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

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bobvend
1948/01/24

This film predates my birth by ten years, but after just seeing it on TCM, I had to weigh in. Overlong? ...well probably, and certainly contrived, given the plot. But somehow, it works, and does so beautifully.Both Andrews and Oberon do the best they can with their characters: he, a blind pianist playing in dives; she, a wealthy socialite who likes to go slumming. Enamoured by him, she feigns blindness in order to insinuate her way into his bitter existence. Both Hoagy Charmichael and stalwart Ethel Barrymore add comic bite and the requisite amount of wisdom as they lend their support to the ruse. And there are some cleaver twists which keep the game running just when one would think they would otherwise send it careening off the tracks. And it's hard for me to think of another film in which Merle Oberon was more beautiful.Set your reality check to its lowest setting and enjoy this classic sudser. And, if you're not a fan of classical music, this film just might change that!

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edwagreen
1948/01/25

This is basically a story dealing with loving someone for whom they are.Dana Andrews gives another wonderful performance as a blinded pianist who is bitter about his accident that left him like this. By chance, he meets the wealthy Merle Oberon, who falls for his music and pretends to be blind herself.When she sponsors a musical context knowing that he will win, he will have the money to have the surgery. With his sight restored, he doesn't get in touch with her leading her to believe that he is still blind.When the two come together as sighted people,you would think that Andrews would recognize her voice.Oberon does well as the wealthy dowager. Ample support is given by the craggy voiced Ethel Barrymore, her aunt, who plays along in the scheme as well as Hoagy Carmichael, the guy that Andrews lives with.A fine follow up for Andrews after doing such a wonderful job in "The Best Years of Our Lives," the year before.

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blanche-2
1948/01/26

Thanks to a lovely cast and good direction by John Cromwell, "Night Song," pure hokum from 1947, manages to hold one's interest and be an entertaining film. It's the story of Dan (Dana Andrews), a composer who was blinded after the war and has now given up on life. He plays with his friend's (Hoagy Carmichael) group, and one night, a socialite (Merle Oberon) hears Dan play one of his own compositions and wants to talk with him. She discovers that he's a bitter, unhappy man. She wants to help, so she, too, pretends she's blind and meets him on the beach. She asks him to help her with her piano-playing and urges him to write.There is some wonderful music in this film, played by Artur Rubinstein, and Eugene Ormandy conducts the orchestra. The "Piano Concerto in C Minor" is actually composed by Leith Stevens, and it's quite good. Carmichael shines, singing "Who Killed 'Er" and "One for My Baby." Ethel Barrymore provides fine support as the sarcastic Miss Willey. It's an unusual role for her. Normally, she's a dowager without much sense of humor. Here, she still comes off like a dowager, but her wisecracks are effective nevertheless.There are some major holes in this film - I find Merle Oberon's speaking voice and accent very unique, and I don't know why Dan didn't recognize it immediately when she is introduced as her real self. I also didn't totally buy Dan's reactions at the end; I would have expected him to become quite angry.Still, there's something about "Night Song" that you can't help liking. If you're a fan of Merle Oberon's and/or Dana Andrews, don't miss it. Lucky for me, I love Hoagy Carmichael as well.

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Ramesseum
1948/01/27

For those who did not live in the 40s, this film may appear to be soap-operish. However, one must remember that 60 years of Real and TV soap opera have drastically diminished its impact, leaving us with a feeling that we have seen it all before - forgetting that it was the "first". A blind musician, a wealthy socialite, an "all-knowing" aunt, a musical friend, Rubinstein and Ormandy - what a confection! And the "glue" that holds it all together is the music. After all, it IS "Night Song". Other reviewers have been rather harsh in their criticism of Leith Stevens' concerto. It should be noted that it has been recorded along with other film piano concertos on ELAN CD (Piano in Hollywood)and represents - along with the output of so many others - the greatest "American" symphonic music of the 20th century. Film music never gets its proper due. Whatever "romanticism" in this movie appears far fetched, it's no less plausible than the current crop of "action" films. For those who prefer clanging and banging, this "song" is not for you!

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