Night Must Fall (1937)

A stagey but engaging potboiler about a murderer hiding out as a servant in an old woman's charge. Probably one of Rosalind Russell earliest roles finds her suspecting Robert Montgomery's cheery psychopath to the contrary of everyone else. Remade in 1964 w/Albert Finney, this drama is ahead of its time & it could stand another remake (I usually would stand by the original) but the times & mores have been updated so this yarn could be a good reboot.

This is one of those films that gets lost in the shuffle when it comes to scary thriller films. It needs a re-look by everyone.I'll say right off that I'm a huge Rosalind Russell fan but she was sorta bland in this one. She's a lot better in her screwball comedies. She has a co-headliner in this and he should be cause...he's the star.Robert Montgomery is just super creepy in this. He plays the perfect sociopath in this fine little thriller. You wouldn't think with him in this it would come off as eery and scary as it does but he plays the villain so well it was a pleasure to watch. What makes him so good is that during the film you know he's bad but he doesn't come off that way. It's in a sorta roundabout way with sly inferences here and there. Wait until the end though. Evil finally rears its ugly head.This film is well worth a look in horror/thriller circles. I think it gets overlooked because of its age. Even for 1937 though, it's damn effective if your gonna watch this on a cold/dark Saturday night. Give it a try and be amazed on how well it works.

Rosalind Russell is wonderful playing a demure, somewhat repressed secretary, working for her crotchety old auntie in a country estate, who suspects the charming Irish houseboy of being a killer; worse still, her odd attraction to the man stops her from alerting the police. Emlyn Williams' successful stage production becomes first-rate dramatic film, with careful attention to character motivation and dialogue (and gleefully nasty, sordid little details besides). Unfortunately, it all unravels in the final reel, which does allow Oscar-nominated Robert Montgomery a chance to pull out the stops, though at the expense of credibility. Beautiful production, terrific supporting performance from May Witty. Followed in 1964 by a critically-drubbed remake. **1/2 from ****

Remember my parents telling me how great this film was and the great acting performed by all the actors. It is great to see other generations enjoying this great story that was performed on the New York City stage and then the 1937 film version. Robert Montgomery, (Danny 'Babyface'), "Lady in the Lake",'47, played a rather strange fellow who became quite involved with Rosalind Russell,(Olivia Grayne), "Wonderful Town", '58 who lived with her Aunt, Dame May Witty, (Mrs. Bramson), "The White Cliffs of Dover",'44. Danny was hired by Mrs. Bramson, who was delighted with his great wit and charming personality. This is certainly a very dramatic film which reveals deep hidden secrets about each persons mental feelings and childhood problems that some of them share with each other. Dame May Witty, was the first woman awarded the title of Dame in 1918, which stands for Knight in the United Kingdom. A must see great Classic film of 1937