Midnight Mary (1933)

Director:

William A. Wellman

Writers:

Anita Loos (story)
Gene Markey (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

30 June 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Plot:

A young woman is on trial for murder. In flashback, we learn of her struggles to overcome poverty as a teenager...

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Trial | Prison | Murder | Gangster

Cast

Loretta Young	...	Mary Martin
Ricardo Cortez	...	Leo Darcy
Franchot Tone	...	Thomas 'Tom' Mannering Jr.
Andy Devine	...	Samuel 'Sam' / 'Sammy' Travers
Una Merkel	...	Bunny 'Bun'
Frank Conroy	...	District Attorney
Warren Hymer	...	Angelo Ricci
Ivan F. Simpson	...	Mr. Tindle (as Ivan Simpson)
Harold Huber	...	Mr. 'Puggy' Nestle
Sandy Roth	...	Blimp
Martha Sleeper	...	Barbara Loring Mannering
Charley Grapewin	...	Court Clerk (as Charles Grapewin)
Halliwell Hobbes	...	Churchill, Mary's Butler
Robert Emmett O'Connor	...	Charlie, the Cop
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ernie Adams	...	Court Photographer (uncredited)
Reginald Barlow	...	Judge (uncredited)
Louise Beavers	...	Anna, Mary's Maid (uncredited)
Don Brodie	...	Court Photographer (uncredited)
Mike Donlin	...	Casino Doorman (uncredited)
Robert Dudley	...	Mannering's night watchman (uncredited)
Robert Greig	...	Potter, Tom's Butler (uncredited)
Wilfred Lucas	...	Nightclub Bouncer (uncredited)
Charles McAvoy	...	Detective (uncredited)
Nelson McDowell	...	Salvation Army Leader (uncredited)
Miki Morita	...	Chinese Restaurant Owner (uncredited)
Lee Phelps	...	Casino Floor Manager (uncredited)
Phillips Smalley	...	Defense Attorney (uncredited)
Richard Tucker	...	Casino Manager (uncredited)
Kathrin Clare Ward	...	Mrs. Ward, Landlady (uncredited)

Directed by
William A. Wellman		(as William Wellman)

Writing credits
Anita Loos		(story)
Gene Markey		(screenplay) and
Kathryn Scola		(screenplay)

Produced by
Lucien Hubbard	....	associate producer

Original Music by
William Axt		(as Dr. William Axt)

Cinematography by
James Van Trees		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
William S. Gray

Art Direction by
Stan Rogers		(as Stanley Rogers)

Costume Design by
Adrian		(gowns)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dolph Zimmer	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Hobe Erwin	....	interior decorator

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director
James Brock	....	sound mixer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Tom Dowling	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Louis Jennings	....	second camera operator (uncredited)

Music Department
Paul Marquardt	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Charles Maxwell	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1933) (USA) (theatrical) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)

Also Known As:

Lady of the Night (USA) (working title)
Midnight Lady (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

74 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) | USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In a closeup of a page from the phone book, with exception of name of hero, the same four or five names are printed repeatedly.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Jingle Bells

Sparkling and Compelling

Interesting drama about a young woman named Mary Martin (played by Loretta Young), on trial for murder, who awaits her verdict and remembers back to her past leading up to this crime. From childhood rummaging through garbage at the dump, to being placed in a "house of correction" as a teenager when she is unjustly accused of stealing a pocketbook, to unknowingly playing lookout for a bunch of crooks pulling a job, Mary really is a good girl - she's just had a life that went from one bad break to another, it seems. Unable to find a real job, she ends up a gangster's moll and, along with his gang of hoodlums, she's now dressing to the nines in satin gown, skullcap, and fur coat and assisting them with crimes - but when she meets a handsome, rich playboy (Franchot Tone) one night while out on a "job" with her gang, she asks him to help her get away from this life of crime.

This film is really interesting, well-edited and fast-paced, with compelling story that completely held my interest, and a really great performance by Loretta Young who really makes this film. Una Merkel adds to the mix as Mary's gal pal Bun, and Andy Devine is fun as Franchot Tone's goofy sidekick. Franchot Tone, by the way, looks extremely handsome in this with top hat, white tie, and tails (oh, my), Loretta Young is very beautiful, as usual, and there is just tons of chemistry between the two of them in their romantic scenes. Watch for those kisses - wow!