The Other Side of Midnight (1977)

Director:

Charles Jarrott

Writers:

Herman Raucher (writer)
Sidney Sheldon (novel)

Release Date:

8 June 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The Romance Of Passion And Power

Plot:

A Greek tycoon's mistress tries to track down and find her ex-World War II lover.

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Sex | Female Nudity | Time For Title | Adultery

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Marie-France Pisier	...	Noelle Page
John Beck	...	Larry Douglas
Susan Sarandon	...	Catherine Alexander Douglas
Raf Vallone	...	Constantin Demeris
Clu Gulager	...	Bill Fraser
Christian Marquand	...	Armand Gautier
Michael Lerner	...	Barbet
Sorrell Booke	...	Lanchon
Antony Ponzini	...	Paul Metaxas
Louis Zorich	...	Demonides
Charles Cioffi	...	Chotas
Dimitra Arliss	...	Sister Theresa
Jan Arvan	...	Warden
Josette Banzet	...	Madame Rosa
John Chappell	...	Doc Petersen

Runtime:

165 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:R (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA (cable rating) | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Camarillo Airport - 555 Airport Way, Camarillo, California, USA

Company:

Frank Yablans Presentations

Trivia:

Because of a phenomenal success of the book, 20th Century Fox was sure that this was going to be a huge hit at the box office. At the same time there were such low expectations surrounding Star Wars (1977) that most theaters refused to book the film. So the distributor at Fox came up with the idea of a package deal: telling theater chains that if they wanted this movie they had to book Star Wars first. This movie went on to become a box office dud while Star Wars went on to become one of the most successful films of all time.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Larry leaves Cathy in the caverns, one time when she yells out his name but her mouth is not moving.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Empire of Dreams: The Story of the 'Star Wars' Trilogy (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

I Know Why (and So Do You)

early mini-series fodder

If this were to have been done twenty years later with a modern sensibility, gullible stars, a more lethal editor, and a spot more atmosphere, it could well have ended up as a hit. The budget was obviously good, and the photography is mostly excellent despite its too-frequent descent into seventies syrup. The lighting (and look) tends to be pretty uniform - for example, Wartime Paris was apparently a beautifully colorful time, and the mood gay and sumptuous, but then so is everything else, right down to the fitted carpet. The debt owed to the black and white classics is apparent, but there is something very unconvincing about using the old styles of movie-making with full-on glossy, TV color. A shame they didn't go all the way, and let the hammers fly -for heavens' sake give me some deep shadow when the lights are on. All in all, the zoom lens is over-active, the script underwhelming, and the score dreary. The performances, however, are lively and committed and the styling and costumes sometimes inspired. "Entraptured" as I was, I couldn't help feeling I was watching a Judith Krantz novel....oh, that's right - it's Sidney Sheldon! Compelling nonetheless...