Director: Joseph H.
Lewis
Notable Cast: Steven
Geray, Micheline Cheirel, Eugene Borden, Ann Codee, Egon Brecher, Helen
Freeman, Brother Theordore, Gregory Gaye
When it comes to digging into cinema, I tend to overlook too
many films prior to the 1960s. Mostly because there is so much to dig into that
sometimes its hard to know where to start. For that, I usually depend on
outside sources to guide my purchases. One of them being collector’s
distribution labels like Arrow Academy. When it was announced they would be
releasing a Blu Ray for Lewis’ crime noir film So Dark the Night, I was ecstatic. Lewis had his fair share of
impressive films under his belt and this film has garnered quite the cult
status over the years as an overlooked gem of both his career and the genre.
With that in mind, it’s somewhat perplexing that it took time for this film to
build its momentum. It certainly deserves the serious praise it receives for
its unique blend of style and detail that is built into what might have been a
lesser B-grade film. It’s not a reach to understand why, at the time, the film
may have been overlooked, but with the always teaching hindsight and context So Dark the Night is the kind of film
that absolutely deserves a Blu Ray release of this stature.
Based on a story by Aubrey Wisberg, So Dark the Night starts off in such a way that it could go a
thousand different directions. It introduces the audience to our chipper protagonist,
Detective Cassin, as he is finally taking a long-deserved vacation from his
time solving crimes in Paris. He is traveling to the country side and it’s
there that he meets a beautiful young woman, Nanette, and quickly they fall and
love and plan a marriage. This could be the opening of a romance, a comedy, a
drama, or a variety of other films. However, it’s perhaps the perfect opening for
a murder mystery film because it sets a hopeful and light-hearted tone that is easily
deconstructed as the first murder arrives and the film spirals into the darker
and darker territory. The plot itself is rather tricky because the third act
takes a fairly punchy turn that leans heavily into ‘unbelievability,’ but the
narrative is so full of nuance, style, and impressive qualities that it takes
the various gimmicks and spins them into something grander. It’s weirdly artful
in how it grabs onto its occasionally awkward moments and uses them to build
its tone shifts and narrative slides. By the time the film starts revealing all
of the pieces and picks up the pace into the third act, it has laid such a
fantastic groundwork that it soars with ease right through any hiccups or
gimmicks.
Most of So Dark the
Night’s ability to maintain its narrative strengths lies in the execution
of the film. Director Joseph H. Lewis has a knack for both quirky and subtle
stylish elements that add layers to the film. Once all of the story is
revealed, it’s easy to rewatch the film and look for all of the clues and tonal
visual cues that Lewis embeds into it. Angles of cameras, the way shots are focused,
and the use of windows and mirrors are all just some of the things that stood out
on a second watch that adds an impeccable amount of detail to what could have
been a second-rate film. Partner that sense of commitment to the idea with some
fantastic performances, particularly in the great range and choices that Steven
Geray as Cassin brings to the table, and So
Dark the Night flies on its execution.
Again, as a reviewer, my overall understanding of the
context of So Dark the Night is limited.
It’s not like I am a rabid follower of Lewis’ career or even one that emphatically
leaps into noir films. Fortunately, Arrow Academy knows that this is most
likely the case for most of its viewers and the special features reflect that.
Both the audio commentary by Glenn Kenny and Farran Smith Nehme and the new
analysis by Imogen Sara Smith dig into the film’s many great layers and the
context around it on why it has garnered its cult audience over time. Partner
this with a great hi-def presentation and this release is prepped for both solidified
fans and newbies like myself.
In terms of uncovered diamonds from the past, So Dark the Night is a shiny example of
why it’s important to reach back and look at the films of the past – even those
that might have been overlooked. The film is a layered treat, taking a gimmicky
concept and executing it in such a thoughtful manner that it easily overcomes
any of the flaws of its script. It’s a blessing that labels like Arrow Academy
give life to films like this. Had they not released this film on a new Blu Ray,
I certainly would not have thought to go hunting for it…and So Dark the Night deserves to be hunted
down.
ARROW ACADEMY FEATURES:
Written By Matt Reifschneider
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