Product Details

• Actors: George Raft, Constance Cummings, Wynne Gibson, Mae West, Alison Skipworth
• Directors: Archie Mayo
• Writers: Mae West, Kathryn Scola, Louis Bromfield, Vincent Lawrence
• Producers: William LeBaron
• Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Universal Studios
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 1998
• Run Time: 73 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302798477
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #26,831 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  Video > Comedy > By Year > 1930-1939

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Night After Night was conceived as a serious dramatic vehicle for George Raft, a major star in gangster pictures (who had been a real New York gangster before coming to Hollywood). But the movie--for the most part an overheated melodrama--would probably have been forgotten long ago were it not for Mae West. Raft and West had been lovers when she was starring on Broadway. He brought her to Hollywood to give her a break in pictures with a small part in this one. But, as Raft said, West "stole everything but the cameras."

Raft is convincingly melancholic as Joe Anton, owner of "the swellest speakeasy in New York". He's sick of the racket, sick of the smell of booze, and sick of his girl, Iris (Wynne Gibson), a whiny, pathetic floozy. Lately his head has been turned by a classier species of dame, one Miss Healy (Constance Cummings), a society debutante who's been pining prettily in his speakeasy every night. Raft hires a high-falutin' tutor, Mrs. Jellyman (battle-axe Alison Skipworth), to improve his deportment and impress Miss Healy. He invites Mrs. Jellyman to dine with him and Miss Healy, when who should show up to wreck his plans but his old flame, Maudie Triplett (West). The movie shifts into high gear when she appears. It's fascinating to see West in a very different role than those she plays in her other films. No goddess with men falling at her feet is she, but an uninhibited good-time girl with a healthy taste for champagne. We have the sense that we're glimpsing Mae West before her all-important image had been finely honed. --Laura Mirsky

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good pre-code movie, February 11, 2002

By	Fernando Silva "fedo" (Santiago de Chile.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'd always read that this film's only asset was being the movie in which Mae West made her screen debut, and having seen it, I can say that that's untrue and absolutely unfair. West is in top & rare (different from her subsequent stereotyped love goddess persona) form as Maudie, Raft's old flame and friend, and her scenes are very funny, but that's only part of it. George Raft plays the lead as the owner of a Speakeasy who longs for things that money alone can't buy: prestige, class, a worthy lady-wife and going up the social ladder. He hires wonderful Alison Skipworth as a teacher, in order to learn the manners + way of the upper classes (her hangover scene with miss West is a gem). Raft also falls for very pretty Constance Cummings, who's good in her part of the impoverished socialite. Noteworthy performances too by Wynne Gibson (who physically resembles the young Miriam Hopkins, who was also a Paramount star in that period of time), as the vulgar and cheap floozy in love with Raft (who wants to get rid of her at any price!) and by Roscoe Karns as his loyal sidekick. Also in it, great character actor Louis Calhern as Cummings' rich suitor. In all a very pleasent, entertaining and very well acted movie, unjustly neglected and overlooked for decades, and merely dismissed as "Mae West's first picture". It's much more than just that kids.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mae West's Debut, January 1, 2006

By	Samantha Kelley "Maliejandra" (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This pre-code film might draw you in because of Mae West, but it will make you a fan of George Raft. Night After Night is the story of a man who runs a speakeasy (Raft). He finds himself in a bind when another gang in town wants to buy him out or bump him off. He isn't worried, but when he meets a beautiful high class girl who he sets out to marry (Constance Cummings), he plans to sell for enough money to take care of her. However, in comes his old flame (West) who is by no means cautious when it comes to demolishing the good impression he is trying to make on his potential wife.

West is brash and realistic in this film, but her part is much smaller than her later starring roles. She has some great lines though and some revealing costumes.

Raft is wonderful in this film. His usual gangster character is enlightened by love; in scenes where he is innocently eager and lovestruck, he is incredibly likable.

There are some scandalous elements in this film. We see Raft's naked hip as he steps into the bathtub, West in a loose, revealing nightgown, prostitution references, and a kiss that does not entail love.

This tape also includes a theatrical trailer for the film.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous, August 13, 2007

By	Tom Peters "ftl38" (Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

I think this film is a hoot! I love Mae West as Maudie Triplet. She is lovable. The movie is very hysterically funny in parts. I could watch it over and over again and it always makes me laugh.