Customer Reviews

Night After Night [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

As was customary in early talkies, there are long musicless stretches in NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, unless logic calls for it. Much of the action unfolds at a fancy speakeasy; its orchestra can be heard playing a catalog of PARAMOUNT related tunes such as "Everyone Says I Love You," "Mimi" and "Isn't It Romantic."

Here, George Raft is the nattily dressed but rough-edged "speak" owner who's looking to divest of the fancy saloon and move up in society. Toward this aspiration he receives regular tutelage from Alison Skipworth, whose soft spoken society matron contrasts sharply with her more familiar blowsy, overbearing dame roles.

Although Raft doesn't play a gangster in this first starring vehicle, his character is closely associated with them and uses the lingo. The love triangle he gets entangled in has one extra angle to it, an actress who steals every scene she's in. Infatuated with Park Avenue lady Constance Cummings, George is not yet free of a gal with as many rough edges as his own, Wynne Gibson. Her needy whining quickly turns to thoughts of violence when Raft instructs assistant Roscoe Karns to eject the overloud Gibson from his club. She manages to wheedle off the hook, grabs a pistol and goes hunting for her ex, which brings us to another hard-as-steel former lover, Mae West (in the first of a dozen movies).

Her attitude about an affair that's ended is far healthier than Gibson's. A good time gal through and through, Miss West supplies this drama's most amusing moments, with crackling self-penned dialogue (the only one of four scripters to receive no screen credit). Every second Mae is in the story is memorable; she is in fact the primary reason this old picture is remembered today.

There's several dramatic highlights, including the inevitable confrontation between pistol-packin' Gibson and hard to rattle Raft. With a predictble plot, this pre-Code programmer is still sure to please all fans of early Depression Era cinema.


Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 imdb viewer poll rating.

(6.0) Night After Night (1932) - George Raft/Constance Cummings/Alison Skipworth/Mae West/Roscoe Karns/Louis Calhern (uncredited: Dennis O'Keefe/Leo White)

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.

Ms West... Was a class act and she was way way before her time... This movie(the second of hers I own)has some very interesting scenes in it... alot of "things" going on in the 1930's

This is the film in which 39 year - old Broadway star Mae West made her debut in motion pictures; like co-star George Raft once said "She stole everything but the cameras". Alison Skipworth is hilarious as Mabel Jellyman and when she is taking nips with Mae, she asks "Maudie, what do you think I should do with my inhibitions?" to which Mae replies "Well, honey, I've got an old trunk over here"! When Mae asks Mabel to get into her "racket" which is one of "the best payin' around" (Maudie has her own chain of beauty parlours called "Institute de Beaut") Mabel mistakenly thinks Maudie's talking prostitution and answers "Well, dontcha think I'm just a little old"? Not a great movie by any means, it comes alive only when Mae appears on screen. "Night after Night" is the name of the speakeasy in which the movie takes place.

I was very disappointed in this video. If your fond of George Raft it is great. If it's Mae West your interested in there is not much of her in this video. The copy I received had some flutters in it as well.