Dewey1960 Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 This past September TCM scheduled the film NIGHTFALL for its premiere showing. Unexpectedly, Jane Wyman passed away the day before and a special tribute to her bumped NIGHTFALL out of the lineup. Now, happily enough, NIGHTFALL returns to the TCM schedule on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23rd. It's never too early to start oiling up those VCR and DVD recorders because this one is a keeper! NIGHTFALL is a spellbinding 1957 noir film directed by the great Jacques Tourneur. Based on a novel by David Goodis ("Dark Passage," "Shoot The Piano Player," etc) the film stars Aldo Ray, Anne Bancroft, Brian Keith, James Gregory and Rudy Bond. Nearly a forgotten film, NIGHTFALL has never been available on home video. Its appearance on TCM next month provides ample reason for rejoicing among true noir completists. NIGHTFALL tells of the plight of an innocent man plunged into a nightmarish scenario of fear and paranoia when he becomes the object of pursuit by both the cops and a pair of sadistic killers over the whereabouts of a cache of stolen money. Tourneur, through the clever weaving of flashbacks, unfolds the story in a most dazzling fashion, never letting the tension ease for a moment. Anyone familiar with the dark and despairing novels of David Goodis will no doubt be drawn into the dire world of NIGHTFALL's protagonist, Jim Vanning---beautifully played by the vastly underappreciated Aldo Ray. Ray's compelling portrait of a tough man on the brink of utter desperation (a common thread in Goodis' fiction) is a revelation---as honest a depiction of a tortured hero as 1950s American pulp cinema has provided. The stunning Anne Bancroft (in an early starring role) adds considerable spice as a mysterious woman who unexpectedly stumbles into Jim Vanning's dangerous world. Brian Keith and Rudy Bond score big as the heavies, etching incredibly memorable performances. Bond is especially impressive; a giggling sadist capable of unspeakable violence without the slightest provocation. James Gregory (the unctious and corrupt Senator Iselin from THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE) represents the right side of the law. The grounded contrast he provides lends an air of unusual realism to an otherwise (gloriously) far-fetched story. The wonderful rhythm and blues singer Al Hibbler croons the title tune; a haunting melody that drives the film along. Tourneur directed only a handful of noir films (OUT OF THE PAST and THE LEOPARD MAN chief among them); NIGHTFALL, while not necessarily the equal of OUT OF THE PAST shares many of that film's virtues while carving it's own unique path. One of my personal all-time favorites, I can't recommend this film highly enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Good thing they remembered (to reschedule). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkadin Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Thanks for the reminder Dewey. I've been waiting a long time for this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkadin Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Thanks for the reminder Dewey. I've been waiting awhile for this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dewey1960 Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share Posted January 21, 2008 Just a little bump to remind one and all that Jacques Tourneur's wonderful noir film NIGHTFALL airs on TCM on Wednesday, Jan 23. Film Noir fans are urged not to miss it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Thanks, Dewey! I surely don't want to miss Brian Keith in a film noir! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 All good things come to those who wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dewey1960 Posted January 24, 2008 Author Share Posted January 24, 2008 Hope everyone had a chance to see this yesterday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 I left my place without programming the vcr. I missed it again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiO Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Showing again on the morning of March 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Thank you ChiO! I'll have my dvd recorder by then and will be sure to get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrHoneywell Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I recorded this film and watched it today. I thought it was very exciting and well made. I haven't seen too many film noir movies but my curiosity has been piqued. Is Nightfall typical of what to expect? Can anyone here recommend other movies like it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronxgirl48 Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I missed it too; I'll have to catch it in March. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken123 Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Among my favorite noirs are - in no special order: Nightmare Alley, The Big Sleep ( Hawks) The Killers (Siodmak) Brute Force .Criss Cross ( Siodmak) I Wake up Screaming Stranger on the Third Floor Murder, My Sweet, Out of the Past DOA (Mate) The Killing The Aspahlt Jungle White Heat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiO Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I haven't seen too many film noir movies but my curiosity has been piqued. Is Nightfall typical of what to expect? *Nightfall* is film noir because of its theme and feel, but it is atypical in its look; i.e. it doesn't have the stereotypical dark urban claustrophobic chiaroscuro setting with Expressionistic camera angles. 10 Suggested Classics of Film Noir -- A Primer *The Maltese Falcon* *Double Indemnity* *Murder, My Sweet* *Detour* *The Killers* (Siodmak) *Out of the Past* *The Big Heat* *Kiss Me Deadly* *The Killing* *Touch of Evil* Then you'll be hooked and constantly searching out the unknown B-movie from the '40s or '50s in hope of finding a gem that you can tell your friends about...as they look at you as if you are a loon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrHoneywell Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Thank you both, Ken and ChiO for your comments and recommendations. I've only seen a few of the films you listed and like them quite a bit (Maltese Falcon and The Big Heat). I'll be adding some of them to my Netfilx orders! Thanks again fellas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redriver Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 It would be hard to beat Chio's list. I might add one, delete one. But that's one hell of a primer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkadin Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 Ya left out FORCE OF EVIL (1948)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiO Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 FORCE OF EVIL? For goodness sakes, I left out the greatest of all times -- GUN CRAZY -- just to show how objective I can be. Actually, only about three of the films I listed would make my Favorite 10 (or 15) list, but I probably wouldn't have gotten to those without these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkadin Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 I understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 I finally watched NIGHTFALL today and thought it was a very well made, unpredictable noir. The variety of locales kept things interesting, as did one of the most odd ball casts I've seen. Odd because I have so many different associations for each individual, none of which has to do with film noir. But, in a way, this adds to the believability because none of these people would have any real connection to one another if it hadn't been for being in the wrong place at the wrong time---or the right place at the right time. I truly enjoyed the score and wanted to share my observation that the music, which Dewey, you say was by a rythm-and-blues artist? felt really "modern". I would have placed it as an arrangement from the 1960s. I loved it, it really added to my enjoyment of the film. I've always liked Aldo Ray. He has a whopping "sincerity" factor about him. A "mug" who doesn't look as though he'd ever be able to successfully tell a lie. While I found myself thinking he didn't look like my idea of a graphic artist (what should a graphic artist look like? ) he is great playing a guy who has no business being that deep in anything as messy as cops-and-robbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 > {quote:title=MissGoddess wrote:}{quote} > I've always liked Aldo Ray. He has a whopping "sincerity" factor about him. A "mug" who > doesn't look as though he'd ever be able to successfully tell a lie. While I found myself > thinking he didn't look like my idea of a graphic artist (what should a graphic artist look like? > ) he is great playing a guy who has no business being that deep in anything as messy > as cops-and-robbers. April, so glad you enjoyed *Nightfall* - and I'm also stoked you also like Aldo Ray. I've been admiring his work much more of late, I don't know what was the first thing that I saw him in, but he really made an impression of me in the RKO WW2 drama *The Naked and the Dead*, which is shown on TCM from time to time. He also has a certain je-ne-sais-quoi that makes it easy for me to forget that I'm watching an actor at work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dewey1960 Posted September 27, 2008 Author Share Posted September 27, 2008 *I truly enjoyed the score and wanted to share my observation that the music, which Dewey,* *you say was by a rythm-and-blues artist? felt really "modern". I would have placed it as an* *arrangement from the 1960s. I loved it, it really added to my enjoyment of the film* Hello there Miss G and welcome to the world of *NIGHTFALL*. One of the most unjustly neglected films of the fifties, noir or otherwise. That haunting rendition of the title theme was by the great Al Hibbler, a blind rhythm and blues singer who was popular all through the decade. He had a hit with "Unchained Melody" a decade before the Righteous Brothers. Sadly, he's not all that remembered today. I have the "Nightfall Theme" on a Decca 45!! Here's a link to one of my favorite Hibler tracks, "September in the Rain." *NIGHTFALL* holds up beautifully for many repeat screenings so you can look forward to a long and rewarding relationship with this film. Director Jacques Tourneur's other great noir, *OUT OF THE PAST* shares a number of visual themes and textures with *NIGHTFALL* making them an interesting evening's combo platter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 > {quote:title=Dewey1960 wrote:}{quote} > Here's a link to one of my favorite Hibler tracks, "September in the Rain." > > That's a lovely tune. I really enjoyed it. Here is a link to Al Hibbler singing "Unchained Melody" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrHoneywell Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Don't you mean loverly? Well don't you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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