Middle of the night
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Middle of the night |
| Original title | Middle of the night |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1959 |
| length | 118 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Delbert man |
| script | Paddy Chayefsky |
| production | George Justin |
| music | George Bassman |
| camera | Joseph C. Brun |
| cut | Carl Lerner |
| occupation | |
| |
Mitten in der Nacht (Original title: Middle of the Night ) is an American film by Delbert Mann from 1959.
action
Betty Preisser is 24 years old and just divorced. She works as a secretary and part-time model in New York City at Jerry Kingsley's textile factory. Jerry, 56, has been a widower for two years. One day, Betty is visited by her boss, Jerry, in her apartment, who wants to pick up a document for the office. They talk for a long time. Jerry feels strongly drawn to the attractive young woman. A relationship slowly develops between the two. During a short Christmas vacation together, Jerry asks Betty if she would like to marry him. Betty reacts hysterically because she has not yet got over her failed marriage, but confesses her love to him and agrees to the marriage. On the way back from vacation, Betty is concerned about Jerry's family's reaction to the upcoming wedding. However, she also hears reproaches from her own mother, who cannot understand why she wants to marry a man so much older.
Jerry's family, especially his sister Evelyn and daughter Lillian, also react with incomprehension. Jerry's daughter accuses Betty, who is almost the same age, that she is only after her father's money. Only his son-in-law Jack congratulates Jerry. His colleague Walter Lockmann, who is a little older than Jerry, advises him to marry. The start into a common future is difficult. During a visit to a bar, Betty meets a friend of her ex-husband who greets her. This makes Jerry so jealous that he gets into an argument with Betty and she leaves him. When her ex-husband George shows up, she realizes that she is still attracted to him. At a later meeting with Jerry, she confesses to him that she cheated on him with her ex-husband but has no intention of wanting to be with George again. However, Jerry is so disappointed with the betrayal that he decides to cancel Betty's wedding.
He withdraws to his apartment alone. Then he gets a call from Lockman's wife who tried to take her own life. The reason for this is Lockman's frustration with his missed life. Lockman's act of desperation lets Jerry realize that his feelings for Betty are so strong that he can get over her betrayal. He drives to Betty and they embrace each other.
Reviews
"A largely subtle study of the soul, which is characterized by psychological depth and a serious problem view, but loses a little of its persuasiveness in the second part," judged the lexicon of international films . The Protestant film observer saw in the film "[e] in a silent praise of the daring love between an aging man and a young woman" and drew the final conclusion: "Recommended for adults."
Awards
The film took part in the competition at the Cannes International Film Festival in 1959 , but did not receive any awards. Fredric March was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1960 .
Web links
- Middle of the night in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- In the middle of the night in the German dubbing file
Individual evidence
- ↑ In the middle of the night. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed February 2, 2020 .
- ↑ Evangelischer Filmbeobachter , Munich, Review No. 723/1959.