So Dark the Night

Joseph H. Lewis was known as "Wagon-Wheel Joe" by studio editors when he was cranking out B-movie westerns as he was in love with using the wheel itself as a visual motif. But he was about more than just one genre. He directed Bela Lugosi in The Invisible Ghost, the musical Minstrel Man and plenty of TV late in his career, but he's mostly known for his film noir work. One of those films, Gun Crazy, is a romance about, well, loving guns. There's a ten-minute bank heist sequence in that film that's been celebrated for decades. No one but the principal actors and people inside the bank were informed that this one-take scene was real. It's audacious -- the action goes from inside the bank to the getaway car with no cut and then Lewis let his actors improv all of their dialogue. But we're here today to speak of So Dark the Night. Inspector Henri Cassin (Steven Geray, who was in tons of films in supporting roles, but fans of this site may know him as Dr. Frankenstein in Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter) has left Paris for a vacation he's waiting a long time for. He's a renowned expert who has solved all manner of the world's toughest cases, but he finally deserves some rest. At a small country inn, he falls for the innkeeper's daughter Nanette. She's a simple country girl, but something speaks to the older Cassin and he hopes to marry her. Everyone informs him that he's too old, but his romantic heart beats for the possibility of a new life. On the night of their engagement party, her ex-boyfriend Leon informs Cassin that he may have her now, but she will always think of her younger lover and eventually, he will have her. Nanette vanishes from her party with Leon as the main suspect, but he's soon found dead. Nanette's mother is warned that she will be next to die and sure enough, she's soon strangled. Pierre, the patriarch of the family and owner of the inn, sells the inn as Henri returns to Paris .The murders and disappearance haunt Henri, who sees the fact that he's solved hundreds of murders as meaning nothing when facing the one case that concerns the woman he truly loves. He comes up with a sketch of the killer and more information by studying the footprint found near Leon's body. That's when he comes up with an audacious hypothesis: he is the murderer. The sketch matches his face and his foot fits the print. After confessing to the police commissioner, we learn that Henri is schizophrenic. Somehow, he escapes back to the inn where he attempts to kill Pierre. The police commissioner has followed him, however, and shoots our protagonist dead, putting him out of his misery (and mystery). While this movie emerged from Columbia's b-movie factory, it's still fascinating and leagues beyond any movie that would be created today. I'd never seen any of Lewis' work before, so this was a welcome change of pace. I'm looking forward to going deeper into his work.

source: So Dark the Night

The headline question is a legitimate one. Of course, being a renowned detective with a Continental accent goes a long way to establish this connection. If that's how it strikes you, so be it, but be prepared (as I wasn't) for some genuine surprises and unexpected twists. This brilliant little film manipulates the viewer like only a masterpiece can. What is particularly satisfying to see is the opportunity this film affords of providing the great Hungarian character actor Steven Geray with a starring role. Geray has a startling 200 acting credits on IMDb. Yet most of his roles were small, supporting parts, sometime consisting of only a few lines. SO DARK THE NIGHT shows the world what an outstanding and under-appreciated talent Geray was. I'd never heard of him before watching this film. Now I'm a fan. And with 200 credits (at least--IMDb isn't infallible) I look forward to saying "Hey, there's Steven Geray!" during much of my future viewing. The video essay and commentary will help you appreciate what a masterful film this is. Director Joseph H. Lewis really knew what he was doing and when given the time and resources he needed to construct a great suspenseful film, he could certainly deliver the goods. Bravo!

***SPOILERS*** Burnt out famous Paris police inspector Henri Cassin, Steven Geray, decides to take a trip out to the country to chill out and get his head back together. That's after solving a string of unsolvable crimes that almost put him in the hospital suffering from exhaustion. At the small town of Saint Margot Henri stays at the Le Cheval Noir Inn where he plans to catch up with his long needed sleep and spend his free time out fishing at the local river. It's when the inns owner Pierre Michaud's, Edger Borden, daughter Nanette, Micheline Cheirel, laid her eyes on Henri, who's exploits as a crime solver preceded him, she went completely gaga over the meek middle aged police inspector. In fact it was Mama Michaud, Ann Codee, who tried to get Nanette and Henri matched up against the objections of her husband Pierre who thought that he, being some 20 years Nannete's senior, was a bit too old for her. Things got a little sticky when Nanette's boyfriend, who was also engaged to her, Leon Achard, Paul Marion, got wind of her attraction to Henri and didn't like it one damn bit! Not being able to hold back his dislike for Henri Leon felt that Nanette's mother was the cause of her being so involved with Henri. Leon realized that Henri being the big man in crime solving that he is compared to himself a dirt poor farmer was more of a catch, in Mama Michaud opinion, then he was for her daughter Nanette. It's when Leon caught both Henri and Nanette smooching at the riverbank that he completely flipped out. Telling Nanette that he's not going to stand for her to leave him for Henri and that he'll kill her if she did didn't makes thing any better for Henri who was not really that interested, in him being a life long bachelor, in marrying her in the first place. It's later when Nanette was found dead and dumped off a bridge into the river that Leon became the prime suspect in her murder! That's until Leon himself was found murdered like Nanette, strangled to death, outside his farm! ***SPOILERS*** With Henri being put on the murder investigation by the local constable he after examining all the evidence comes up with absolutely nothing in who murdered both Leon and Nanette! Becoming obsessed in cracking the murder case Henri slowly, due to the pressure of the job, starts to crack up himself! It's almost by accident that Henri uncovers the person who murdered both Nanette and Leon in a plaster cast he made at one of, Leon's, the murder scenes. But the person that Henri came up with is so unconnected to Leon and Nanette's murder that his boss back at the Paris Police Department thinks that Henri has finally lost it and even goes so far as recommending that he spend some time in a sanitarium for a long needed rest. Little did anyone know at the time that Henri, crazy as he was, was right on target in whom he suspected in Leon and Nanette's murders! With no one believing him Henri on his own went out to prove his murder theories by going back to Saint Margot where the murders were committed! And by him bringing the murderer to justice Henri could finally get the much needed rest that he so badly needed. Even if in the end it ended up killing him!

France has no famous detective ;the Commissaire Maigret is Belgian .But it has rural thrillers ; the American thriller is par excellence urban ;in France many movies of the genre take place in villages (Chabrol's "le boucher" ) ,small towns (Clouzot's "le corbeau" )or even in the country (Becker's "goupi mains rouges" ) .So it was only natural to locate "so dark the night" out in the sticks in France . The French language is often used-with accents :the priest- ,and the actress who plays Nanette is French :Micheline Cheirel was married to Paul Meurisse ("les diaboliques"),but she is completely unknown in her native country and it seems that it's the same for the rest of the cast ,either in America or in France. It was called a "sleeper " by Maltin quite rightly so ; its screenplay is incredibly original ,perhaps influenced by Agatha Christie's 'the murder of Roger Acroyd",its conclusion leaves the viewer speechless. A commissaire , some kind of French Hercule Poirot ,can solve any murder mystery.But now,he's getting old and tired and heads for a vacation in the country .A bachelor, he falls in love with young Nanette who has a crush on this prestigious detective whose reputation has spread all over the land .He considers marriage .But her fiancé ,Leon,is not prepared to accept it:since they were born,their union was taken for granted , which was often the case in the rural French . Nanette and Leon elope ,much to the mature man's chagrin .But shortly after ,both are found dead,strangled by "a strong man" . Overcoming his pain,the cop begins to investigate : in the grand tradition of Agatha Christie ,a new murder is announced ;who will be the new victim : Nanette's mom or dad ? a sinister-looking hunchback -a recurrent character in French rural dramas-? The solution is revealed relatively early (about 20 minutes before the ending ,in a 70 min film),and the viewer is so taken aback he does not believe his eyes .And he says to himself :"that cannot be true ,there's something else ". The river and the little bridge are a peaceful place , a good recreation of the French country ;only the music which is heard during the celebration does not sound French: where is the accordion? A true sleeper ; it's amazing a remake has never been considered.It was never released in France.

Watching this movie last Saturday night, I realize that it was a little and modest Noir, however with an extensive mystery, seems at first sight unsolved case, a clever screenplay was the key success of the whole story, the plot is about a mid-age honest cop detective from Paris Henri Cassin (Steven Geray) a single guy who was put on forced holyday on French countryside at Saint Margot's small village, there he falling in love by a young Nanette (Micheline Cheirel) who was promised to marry with a farmer Antoine (Frank Arnold), they has the same age, instead Cassin is old by her, at engagement party Antoine appears angry promising a revenge, willing makes everything to spoils the upcoming marriage, he leaves the house with Nanette behind him trying explaining, in next day Nanette and Antoine were found death, then the local police asking to Cassin solve the murders, although all your efforts he doesn't able to reach in the killer, some conclusions going fast, Nanette was a dubious character, even loving Antoine she saw on Cassin the possibility to leaves the small boring town to live on the bright Paris, even to marry an older man, fabulous mystery Noir, without forget this picture is forerunner "Sean Connery's The Offence" and "The Eyes of Laura Mars", not too bad at all, highly underrated!! Resume: First watch: 2020 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 8

When a life-long bachelor police investigator from Paris takes a much needed vacation to the country, he finds more than he bargained for when a much younger pretty local maiden, excited by his glamorous city life, takes an interest in him. He's savvy as far as catching criminals and keeping law and order, but probably a bit too naive in the ways of understanding the female mind, especially one who longs more exciting things than what her provincial life has in store for her. They begin to spend romantic evenings together, but a young local farmer who has been away turns up to claim her, having been promised to her since they were children. This leads to the farmer becoming violently jealous, threatening both of them and resulting in murder, but not of who the audience suspects it will be. Steven Geray, a gentle European character actor, is perfectly cast as the seemingly mild mannered investigator who doesn't plan on falling in love but is obviously too lonely not to respond to the attentions of the pretty Micheline Cheirel. Her parents (Eugene Borden and Ann Codee) have differing opinions on her attentions towards Geray with the socially ambitious Codee pushing her daughter towards Geray and away from the handsome but brooding Paul Marion who makes threats both towards Geray and Cheirel, to whom he says, "I'd rather see you dead than in the arms of anybody else!". It's obvious that Cheirel is not in love with Geray but definitely infatuated with him, and her sexual desires towards Marion make it clear that a marriage with Geray would be doomed. The build-up to the murders makes the audience believe that somebody else is going to get knocked off first, not the actual initial victim. This gives the story some unexpected twists and turns that you don't see coming. It also builds up into great suspense. Beautifully moody photography and a gorgeous countryside setting make this lovely to look at, although certain physical elements give the impression that this was set some twenty years before it actually was. The twist of the plot as it reaches its conclusion, added with the performance of Helen Freeman as the hotel maid who realizes the truth, makes this a riveting melodrama, even if a few elements of its plot are somewhat unbelievable.

French detective, Henri Cassin(Steven Geray) finally gets a vacation after eleven years, heads out into the countryside for some much deserved rest and relaxation. His reputation known outside of Paris, even in a small village it seems Cassin can not escape murder and investigation. This little movie was a nice surprise because I'm not familiar with the director, Joseph H Lewis, but his camera is quite arresting and fluid. The ensemble cast is spirited, with a delightful lead performance from Geray as the chipper, celebrated detective, a bachelor with eyes for Nanette(Micheline Cheirel) , whose parents run the inn for which he's staying in the village. Nanette is engaged, though, to a handsome, young farmer, Leon(Paul Marion), while dreaming of a life in Paris, away from the mundane life of the country. Monsieur Cassin is in love for the first time, life as a detective has aged him and so this moment is quite rewarding for someone so associated with crime and murder, during an entire career. I particularly love how Geray gazes lovingly at Micheline Cheirel when she appears, his face emanates. But, this feeling of sudden joy is only temporary as Nanette's body is found in a nearby river, having run after Leon who didn't respond well to the news that, while he was gone, she had agreed to marry Cassin. When Leon is found in his barn strangled like Nanette(bottle of acid in his hand to supposedly assume he had took his own life after strangling Nanette), Monsieur Cassin's sleuthing turns up a double homicide, a footprint implicating someone. A note is presented to Cassin as a word of warning from the murderer that another would die. No motive befuddles the detective and when the next target turns up being Nanette's mother, he becomes consumed with solving this puzzling case. Even Cassin's credibility is in question as he tirelessly(mind, body and soul) pursues the killer. What positively stuns me is what Cassin turns up, and I wouldn't dare give this development up. Not in a million years. The evidence points to one man, only one could match the description, the footprint, the handwriting of the death notes..the revelation throws this genre, the murder mystery, for a loop, with schizophrenia/split personality disorder even tossed in the mix for extra oomph. Definitely recommended to fans of Hitchcockian kind of fare. I dig Lewis' style, he has an affinity for arranging big open shots(his shot of the bridge, an object of symbolic importance throughout as it is where a lot of the drama transpires, including the discovery of Nanette's body, especially striking), and tightly confined close-ups(it is said that Lewis had to shoot so much up close due to budgetary and time constraints). Consider me a Joseph H Lewis fan..why is it always these guys who are used by studios to churn out little movies to accompany supposedly great ones that wind up standing the test of time?

A Paris detective encounters mysterious murders while on vacation in the French countryside. Some day when I have absolutely nothing to do I'm going to count the number of window shots in this film. I hope I can count that high. Actually, all that imagery pays off with a richly symbolic final shot. The movie itself has a rather sumptuous look for a cheap second feature, a credit to the art department and director Lewis' visual imagination, I suppose. Anyway, it's an interesting little noir with an ironical ending, even if it doesn't reach the suspenseful heights of My Name Is Julia Ross, Lewis' previous movie. I wasn't sure where So Dark was going since it begins in rather leisurely fashion. However, once the apparently motiveless murders occur, the plot thickens into a mystery. Still, the screenplay doesn't really play up the whodunit potential, which it could have. Then too, stronger lead performers, I think, would have helped. Steven Geray made a notable career as a waiter or maitre'd in upscale night spots, but as a detective, his presence is a little thin. Also, I agree with the reviewer who thinks Cheirel a shade too old for the ingénue role. Anyway, Lewis' visual talent is on vivid display, making this a very watchable 70 minutes, even though I'm canceling my next visit to the French countryside.

What starts as a particularly crass representation of French life complete with 'American Franglais' accents becomes curiously appealing after about half an hour. Once the melodramatic chestnut of 'the old man and younger women' is dispensed with and we are thrust into the meaty matter of multiple homicide, the drama draws us in. It is here that the two-dimensional characters actually work for the film; is it the jealous widower, the protective father or the ambitious mother? Could be! The acting is fairly average, the budget is non-existent and this movie is by no means a classic. So what saves it then? Well, its main point of interest is its conclusion. The film's ending, although rather clumsily handled is genuinely surprising, mainly because of the film's date and that Hollywood convention rarely allows the generic rules to be broken in such a way. It's one of those movies that you watch in the afternoon when you're doling it or are off sick - I gave it six just for the ending alone.