Blues in the Night *** (1941, Priscilla Lane, Richard Whorf, Lloyd Nolan, Betty Field, Jack Carson) – Classic Movie Review 12,465

The 1941 film noir musical Blues in the Night stars Priscilla Lane, Richard Whorf, Lloyd Nolan, Betty Field, and Jack Carson. The Oscar-nominated title song is a standout in a tuneful, snappy, moody film about a jazz band on the road.

Director Anatole Litvak’s 1941 film noir-style musical melodrama film Blues in the Night stars Priscilla Lane, Richard Whorf, Lloyd Nolan, Betty Field, and Jack Carson.

Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer’s Oscar-nominated title song is a standout in this tuneful, snappy, moody melodrama about a jazz band on the road.

Likeable Jack Carson and Priscilla Lane star as the quartet’s conceited leader Leo Powell and his singing wife Character Powell, providing the film’s best moments, though there are less likeable turns from Richard Whorf as talented jazz pianist Jigger Pine, Lloyd Nolan as gangster Del Davis and Betty Field as Del’s scheming ex Kay Grant, who are too abrasive for the piece.

Tone, mood, music and one-liners, all incisive and authentic, easily sustain it, and director Litvak supports them loyally but unintrusively. Funny thing, you never to get hear the whole of that main tune.

The screenplay by Robert Rossen is based on the play Hot Nocturne by Edwin Gilbert.

Released by Warner Bros, it began filming as Hot Nocturne but was named after its principal musical number ‘Blues in the Night’, which became a popular hit. The film was nominated for a Best Song Oscar for ‘Blues in the Night’ (Music by Harold Arlen; lyrics by Johnny Mercer).

The cast are Richard Whorf as Jigger Pine,  Priscilla Lane as Ginger “Character” Powell, Lloyd Nolan as Del Davis, Betty Field as Kay Grant, Jack Carson as Leo Powell, Elia Kazan as Nickie Haroyen, Wallace Ford as Brad Ames, Howard Da Silva as Sam Paryas, Peter Whitney as Pete Bossett, Billy Halop as Peppi, George Lloyd as Joe, Charles C. Wilson as Barney, William Gillespie as baritone singer, Matt McHugh as the Drunk, Ernest Whitman as Black Prisoner #1. Napoleon Simpson as Black Prisoner #2., Dudley Dickerson as Black Prisoner #3, Anthony Warde as Del’s Henchman #1, Sol Gorss as Del’s Henchman #2, and Mabel Todd as performer.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,465

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