Jazz pianist Richard Whorf (as "Jigger" Pine) puts together a swinging 1940s band, with handsome young Billy Halop (as Peppi) on drums, law student Elia Kazan (as Nickie) playing clarinet, and cell-mate Peter Whitney (as Pete) handling the bass fiddle. In New Orleans, the quintet adds trumpeter Jack Carson (as Leo) and his pretty girl singer wife Priscilla Lane (as "Character"). The band is a hit, as managed by enterprising Lloyd Nolan (as Del Davis). But, trouble reigns as Mr. Nolan supplements nightclub success with a gambling racket, and involves sexy femme fatale Betty Field (as Kay Grant) with the group.
This adaptation of the jazzy play "Hot Nocturne" is astonishing in a couple of ways. The film's use of music is exceptional. The original soundtrack songs, by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, are excellent. Sung beautifully in the jail scene by William Gillespie, the title song was a huge "Academy Award"-nominated hit, with Woody Herman's double-sided Decca record "Blues in the Night" (#1) b/w "This Time the Dream's on Me" (#8) outdistancing an unstoppable parade of hit versions.
Dinah Shore, apparently parodied herein, had a million-seller with her "Blues in the Night". Also noteworthy is the film's marvelous use of film montage; there are several striking sequences, put together (presumably) by editor Owen Marks, photographer Ernie Haller, and director Anatole Litvak. You'll know them when you see them. However, the two future directors in the cast (Whorf and Kazan) don't always come across very well, and Mr. Litvak doesn't really get the performances possible from several in the cast. While other characterizations are curiously lacking, Nolan and Ms. Field make the most of their parts.
******* Blues in the Night (11/15/41) Anatole Litvak ~ Richard Whorf, Betty Field, Priscilla Lane, Lloyd Nolan
This adaptation of the jazzy play "Hot Nocturne" is astonishing in a couple of ways. The film's use of music is exceptional. The original soundtrack songs, by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, are excellent. Sung beautifully in the jail scene by William Gillespie, the title song was a huge "Academy Award"-nominated hit, with Woody Herman's double-sided Decca record "Blues in the Night" (#1) b/w "This Time the Dream's on Me" (#8) outdistancing an unstoppable parade of hit versions.
Dinah Shore, apparently parodied herein, had a million-seller with her "Blues in the Night". Also noteworthy is the film's marvelous use of film montage; there are several striking sequences, put together (presumably) by editor Owen Marks, photographer Ernie Haller, and director Anatole Litvak. You'll know them when you see them. However, the two future directors in the cast (Whorf and Kazan) don't always come across very well, and Mr. Litvak doesn't really get the performances possible from several in the cast. While other characterizations are curiously lacking, Nolan and Ms. Field make the most of their parts.
******* Blues in the Night (11/15/41) Anatole Litvak ~ Richard Whorf, Betty Field, Priscilla Lane, Lloyd Nolan