Humbersi
The first must-see film of the year.
Anoushka Slater
While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
Staci Frederick
Blistering performances.
morrison-dylan-fan
Watching some of her movies when growing up with my mum and dad,the only thing that I know about Ginger Rogers is her famous on screen partner Fred Astaire.Taking a look on BBC iPlayer,I was intrigued to find a non-Astaire Rogers film,which led to me gingerly getting set to meet the star of midnight.The plot:Whilst trying to track down a friends missing girlfriend, Clay 'Dal' Dalzell attends a show with pal Donna Mantin.During the performance,it hits Dalzell that stage singer Mary Smith, (dubbed "Star of Midnight") (who dresses in black with a veil covering her face)is the missing girlfriend.Yelling out this fact (smart move!) Dalzell causes Smith to run off stage and disappear. Being a fellow audience member,gossip columnist Tommy Tennant claims to have secret details on Smith,but is mysteriously killed in Dalzell's apartment. Faced with his life of luxury coming to an end,Dalzell has to prove his innocence before the midnight hour. View on the film:Stepping on stage a week after completing Roberta,(and after Midnight,she would 6 days later start filming Top Hat!) the glamorous Ginger Rogers gives a sparkling performance as Mantin,with Rogers making the light Screwball Comedy exchanges with Dalzell flow across the screen,and Rogers giving Mantin a pleasant, somewhat clumsy, investigating eye. Showing no sign of being a "thin" presence on screen, William Powell gives a debonair performance as Dalzell,who appears to solve the case with a mere click of the fingers,whilst Powell gives his one line exchanges with Rogers a dry wit.Rolling out their adaptation of Arthur Somers Roche's book just 2 years after Prohibition ended,the screenplay by Howard J. Green/ Anthony Veiller & Edward Kaufman sips up the new era with everyone having a drink in hand,and a number of Mantin's and Dalzell's exchanges being drink puns. Presenting a caper tale on the works,the writers strike a fine balance between easy-going Comedy and a mystery with some sly (and an ending which beats Scobby Doo by decades!)turn,as every attempt Dalzell makes to unmask the killer,leads to himself. Whilst the movie does craft an eerie women in black and fully displays Rogers lavish costumes,director Stephen Roberts disappointingly keeps things stage-bound,with would-be set- pieces being kept off screen via conversations between the two,as Roberts gives the caper a Film Noir atmosphere unmasking,as the star of midnight sings for the last time.
MartinHafer
Before watching this film, I need to mention that the co-star of this film, Ginger Rogers, plays a woman named 'Miss Mantin'. This character is NOT to be confused with the character from "The Mad Miss Manton"--a detective film starring Jean Arthur and William Powell. And, to make it more confusing, "Star of Midnight" is ALSO a detective movie starring William Powell as a hard-drinking gentleman amateur crime-solver!! William Powell plays a lawyer, 'Dal' Dalzell. A murder is committed in his apartment and he's shot (and only slightly injured) by the killer. When the cops come to investigate, one wants to arrest Powell (which makes no sense--and the cop is a stereotypical idiot cop you find in these sort of films). The other (J. Farrell MacDondald) is MUCH more pragmatic and does something I can't recall any other cop doing in a film--he lets Powell do all the investigating and just waits for Powell to uncover the killer!! This is a GREAT thing about the film, as is the nice repartee between Powell and Rogers. As a result, it's a fun and enjoyable film--in the same tradition as Powell's "Thin Man" movies. The only drawback concerns the crime itself. It seems like some things were missing and the heroes made a few logical jumps in reasoning--like the writer needed to hash out the story just a bit better. Still, it's enjoyable and worth a look.
Bob F.
Yes, "Star of Midnight" is a bit of RKO Radio Pictures reworking, or ripping off, MGM's "The Thin Man," but so what? It's good in it's own right. William Powell plays rich and debonair lawyer, Clay Dalzell, who gets involved in a murder, and is himself, a suspect. At his side, Ginger Rogers, co-starring as Powell's romantic companion. This pairing of Powell and Rogers is not as perfect as was Powell and Loy, it's a good match up, never-the-less . The mystery centers around the disappearance of of an actress -- the star of a play entitled "Midnight" -- hence from which the film get its title. All this mystery is wrapped with over- the - top elegance, and sophisticated humor, that was so typical of Hollywood films of the 1930's . You may guess who the murderer is, but the motive should come as a surprise -- and neat one it is !
imdb-24
This movie is thoroughly enjoyable with just the proper balance of humour, intrigue, and style that only William Powell is capable of . Ginger Rogers gives one of her better acting performances and seems very natural opposite of William Powell. This is as good as any of the Thin Man series.
