Impressive character study of Robert Montgomery's role as the servant Danny. May Whitty is equally strong as his employer Mrs. Bramson. They could not be more different; Mrs. Bramson is the quintessential fussy old widow, very set in her ways, imperious, and convinced of her infallibility. Danny is a charlatan, changing his act to suit the audience and the situation. His audience for the most part consists of the old lady and her niece Olivia (Rosalind Russell). Strangely, Danny is able to inveigal his way into the house as the maid's suitor. Meanwhile, a local has gone missing; it seems that lady, who later shows up dead, is Danny's previous employer.
Olivia is suspicious of him right away; plus she can see right through his phoniness. Unfortunately, even she becomes susceptible to his cunning facade. The mystery is not so much who killed the lady in the woods, but how and if Danny will be fingered for the crime. It's Montgomery's brilliance that gives us this 'aw, shucks' bumpkin character, who uses feigned ignorance to manipulate others, especially Mrs. Bramson, into thinking that he's some sort of long-lost other half of an un-named virtue. I'm reduced to near-inarticulateness because I found Danny painful to watch. I hate him! His jaunty look, with the cigarette lazily lilting from his lip, is a sort of self-parody. He's affecting the personality of a cad without any of the substance, and simultaneously makes fun of what he's unable to be.
Fortunately, he has his comeuppance. He's actually panicky at the end, because he can no longer control the situation; he can no longer pretend. I just don't understand his motivation for killing Mrs. Bramson. He does make off with a ton of cash, but is that really worth hanging for? Even if he gets away undetected, he'll be the primary suspect. Not to mention that he's probably already under suspicion for the first murder. There was a slight hint, after we see Mrs. Bramson easily walk out of wheelchair, that she might have something to hide too. After all, who would suspect someone (of the first murder) who's not supposed to be able to walk? The police wonder a bit about Olivia as well. It might have been more interesting had these two red herring possibilities been developed more.
Since it's perfectly established that Danny can be johnny-on-the-spot for every circumstance, I don't find Olivia's muted attraction for Danny unbelievable. It is weird, though, that she'd cover for him with the police. She must know that the bag/pouch has something to do with the first murder; if she isn't implicated in some way, why dabble in trouble? In any case, Justin (Alan Marshal) is obviously more her type, but he's indecisive, and frankly kind of a boring guy. Olivia isn't too thrilled with him, but at least he's an escape hatch from her aunt.
The denouement works well; as soon as Danny sees the flashlight's reflection on the wall, we know he's found out, and Olivia's safe. Having the first murder hanging over the entire movie keeps the suspense going; we're waiting for Danny (or anyone else) to slip up. I don't mind that Night Must Fall is talky; most mysteries are. But it does bog down in the middle, with obnoxious scene after scene of Danny polishing the facets of his mutiple personalities for Mrs. Bramson. Olivia's character could've been fleshed out more to take some of the focus off Danny.
I agree with those who note the pleasing look of the film--both interiors of the house, and the woodsy surroundings (sometimes aptly foggy) Actually, I expected some dark-and-stormy-nights. Too much daylight. Worth a look for Montgomery's performance, fairly entertaining all together.
Olivia is suspicious of him right away; plus she can see right through his phoniness. Unfortunately, even she becomes susceptible to his cunning facade. The mystery is not so much who killed the lady in the woods, but how and if Danny will be fingered for the crime. It's Montgomery's brilliance that gives us this 'aw, shucks' bumpkin character, who uses feigned ignorance to manipulate others, especially Mrs. Bramson, into thinking that he's some sort of long-lost other half of an un-named virtue. I'm reduced to near-inarticulateness because I found Danny painful to watch. I hate him! His jaunty look, with the cigarette lazily lilting from his lip, is a sort of self-parody. He's affecting the personality of a cad without any of the substance, and simultaneously makes fun of what he's unable to be.
Fortunately, he has his comeuppance. He's actually panicky at the end, because he can no longer control the situation; he can no longer pretend. I just don't understand his motivation for killing Mrs. Bramson. He does make off with a ton of cash, but is that really worth hanging for? Even if he gets away undetected, he'll be the primary suspect. Not to mention that he's probably already under suspicion for the first murder. There was a slight hint, after we see Mrs. Bramson easily walk out of wheelchair, that she might have something to hide too. After all, who would suspect someone (of the first murder) who's not supposed to be able to walk? The police wonder a bit about Olivia as well. It might have been more interesting had these two red herring possibilities been developed more.
Since it's perfectly established that Danny can be johnny-on-the-spot for every circumstance, I don't find Olivia's muted attraction for Danny unbelievable. It is weird, though, that she'd cover for him with the police. She must know that the bag/pouch has something to do with the first murder; if she isn't implicated in some way, why dabble in trouble? In any case, Justin (Alan Marshal) is obviously more her type, but he's indecisive, and frankly kind of a boring guy. Olivia isn't too thrilled with him, but at least he's an escape hatch from her aunt.
The denouement works well; as soon as Danny sees the flashlight's reflection on the wall, we know he's found out, and Olivia's safe. Having the first murder hanging over the entire movie keeps the suspense going; we're waiting for Danny (or anyone else) to slip up. I don't mind that Night Must Fall is talky; most mysteries are. But it does bog down in the middle, with obnoxious scene after scene of Danny polishing the facets of his mutiple personalities for Mrs. Bramson. Olivia's character could've been fleshed out more to take some of the focus off Danny.
I agree with those who note the pleasing look of the film--both interiors of the house, and the woodsy surroundings (sometimes aptly foggy) Actually, I expected some dark-and-stormy-nights. Too much daylight. Worth a look for Montgomery's performance, fairly entertaining all together.