MovieChat Forums > Night Must Fall (1937) Discussion > Impressed with the film, but would have ...

Impressed with the film, but would have made changes in script

posted 14 years ago by SusanJL
10 replies | jump to latest

Robert Montgomery's performance was absolutely fantastic, but some changes would have made this a much better film, IMHO. ***SPOILERS AHEAD***

1. They should have made it ambiguous that Danny was the killer, not letting on so soon in the film, like Cary Grant's role in "Suspicion".

2. What in the world is Roz's objection to her handsome lawyer boyfriend?? He seemed like a dream catch, to me! He should have been played by a much more homely guy. I kept thinking "Hey, stupid, I'll take him!!!".

It also didn't make any sense to me that they thought it strange at all that Roz was frightened & left her aunt's home - right after the headless, naked body of a murdered woman is found a short distance from the house??

3. I would have had Danny lie to Roz & her aunt about knowing the murdered woman. I would also have Roz accidentally find the photo of the murdered woman (perhaps in Danny's coat pocket?) after she saw her photo in the newspaper nearer the end of the film, and realize Danny had lied about knowing her.

4. It was WAY too much out of character for Roz to cover for Danny (convinced he'd committed the murder, no less!) in the hatbox scene. I would have had Danny tell the detective that the hatbox was in his room before he moved in, and somehow use his charm to coax the old lady to back his story up. Or the hatbox could simply disappear and Roz discover that in the search scene described below.

5. It was just too, too odd to me that Danny did not get furious at the 3 women going through his things. And I would think Dora would have some objections, as well, since she was planning to marry him! I would have had just Roz and the cook do the snooping. And snooping just because Roz wants to find out what sort of man Danny is & his past, not because she suspects he's a murderer.

6. I would also have Danny whistle "Mighty like a Rose" right before she leaves the Aunt's house, which would better explain why she was so freaked out.

[–] lubin-freddy 14 years ago

A few points of agreement, having just watched the film for the first time.

1. Yes, definitely. I kept waiting for the twist that never came.

2. I suppose it was meant to show that she needed, down deep, someone more interesting and outside the usual boundaries, in order to raise the possibility that she might have been attracted to Danny. As for the reaction to her leaving the house, I also agree, and though so when watching the film.

4. Yes, major flaw in character development, unless you consider what they MAY have been trying to do, as I mentioned above. The the possibility was too underdeveloped, even if they were going for it.

5. Again, yes. Very poor scene, that had more potential for character development.

"Sometimes you have to take the bull by the tail, and face the truth" - G. Marx

[–] SusanJL 14 years ago

I kept waiting for a twist, too. In fact, I thought maybe her lawyer boyfriend was the killer!

[–] Angel2121 14 years ago

I just watched this movie, and I actually disagree with most of your points, though not all of them.

1. I think for at least the first half it was pretty ambiguous, but Olivia picked up on the possibility early because she was indeed yearning for something to happen. She seemed quite imaginative (like Danny) herself. Her whole speech at the window scene pretty much nailed it for me.

2. Yeah, but he's too dang proper. And then that moment where he asks her if she'll let him rescue her. Very corny, and not charming. Though people in the 1930s probably wouldn't have found it as demeaning as I do.

But I do agree that it wasn't strange that Olivia left home after the body was found.

3. That wouldn't have worked. It's a small town, and he worked at the same hotel where the woman was staying. He was bound to have encountered her at some point. He did downplay how much he knew her, which did make finding the picture a bit surprising.

4. I don't think so. She's been covering up for Danny a lot even before that scene (taking the tag off of the shawl, for example), and I thought that her attraction to him was palpable.

5. In general, I thought the fact that she got Dora and the cook involved was strange. I also thought that Dora would act more shocked and surprised when they found those letters and photos. But she hardly reacted to it at all.

However, I do think Danny's reaction was totally in character. He never displays that much passion throughout the movie. He just imbues his voice and mannerisms with a subtly yet clearly threatening tone, which I felt happened during that scene.

6. Maybe, but I think that would ham it up too much. What I most appreciated about the movie was the fact that everything was understated yet so very clear. The ending (well, everything not involving Danny's reactions when the police come) just seems too pat. Why did Olivia leave the lawyer? Did she ever actually visit him? How everyone else found out about what was going on just seemed too simple, even downright cliched (especially with the lawyer).

But I do think it was weird that Olivia wanted to leave during the night. Seemed too convenient. I thought she was in on the plot to kill Mrs. Bramson.

[–] SusanJL 14 years ago

You're probably right about Danny confessing he knew the murdered woman.
But it still seems uber-weird that Olivia is SO disgusted with the old woman - "I think you're enjoying this!!" - and then covers for a murderer?
I would have to see Danny & Olivia become WAY more romantically involved before I could buy that at all.
And she may have covered up for the shawl tag because Danny was useful for keeping the old woman in a better mood & out of HER hair.
And his reaction to their snooping - yes, you're probably right - he was such a megalomaniacal sociopath he was confident he could control any "fallout". I still think it would make more sense for the hatbox to "disappear" - like another poster pointed out, it would reek of death after a couple of days! Then when the police search his things, Olivia realizes the hatbox is gone - maybe even mentions its existence to them and Danny makes up a lie about what happened to it - glares at her menacingly, scaring her into silence & confirming her suspicions about his part in the murder.
As to point 6, yes it would be hammy; but this movie was rather melodramatic anyway.
I enjoyed the movie way better the second time I viewed it - the verbal jousting between Olivia & Danny was interesting, great dialog!!

[–] ccoutroulos 14 years ago

"I thought she was in on the plot to kill Mrs. Bramson."

I agree. I think the whole point of the movie was that, without admitting it even to herself, she wanted Danny to commit her murder for her. When he does, she is properly "horrified," washing her hands of her own involvement.

Her prevention of the examination of the hatbox by the police of course also makes her an accessory to Danny's earlier murder as well as guilty of obstructing justice, facts that would be bound to come out during his trial.

The film's "happy" end obscures all this and actually weakens the plot. In the play, there is no lover waiting in the wings to take her away at the end. This provides her with a possibility of escape that actually makes her aunt's murder unnecessary. Also, the film's Olivia has considerably more backbone than the play's, who is much more passive and hence more desperate.

[–] SusanJL 14 years ago

You know, it never occurred to me that Olivia wanted Danny to kill Mrs. Bramson, but on second thought that does make sense of her earlier actions.

[–] gribfritz2 12 years ago

I thought the twist was going to be the lawyer, instead of changing Olivia's inheritance from 200 pounds down to 100, instead secretly changed the will to leave everything to Olivia. This would then give Olivia added incentive to "help" Danny as she did numerous times. Also, the deviousness would make the lawyer a much more interesting person to Olivia.

Instead, there is no twist and we just have a collection of odd people acting very strangely throughout the film.

[–] stratorick 11 years ago

Waste anything except TIME time is our shortest material

The hardest part of the movie for me to swallow was the hatbox intervention scene. I have often thought if she had allowed the police to force Danny to open the box he would have been arrested on the spot or at least discredited in the old woman's eyes. In lying about the box's ownership Olivia gives Danny the opportunity to put the old women out of the way, perhaps intentionally. Also I agree it would have come out about the hatbox eventually and Olivia would have likely faced charges. Other than that it's a fun film and very beautifully photographed.

[–] ccoutroulos 13 years ago

"5. It was just too, too odd to me that Danny did not get furious at the 3 women going through his things."

I think he was indeed furious. However, don't forget that he was out to make as much use of other people as he could. For that reason, it made sense that he'd cover up his rage as best he could -- and bide his time.

[–] mdonln 9 years ago

I don’t think there’s anything about this movie that needs to be changed. It’s impressive as is. I do agree about Robert Montgomery’s performance though. It is brilliant! Rosalind Russell gives an outstanding performance too.

All the changes you suggest would make this a completely different movie. It's not a murder mystery or a whodunit. The movie is about Danny and Olivia and the dynamic between them. He charms, manipulates, and uses people to get what he wants; and she, desperate for excitement, lets herself get drawn into his web; even to her own peril. There's a lot of pent-up sexual desire between them too; mostly on her part but he uses it to his advantage.

1. For the premise to work, it has to be clear that Olivia can see through him. That's the point. She's not fooled by him and he's more honest with her than anyone. She has every reason not to be taken in, yet she is.

2. Olivia has been craving passion for a long time. Danny just happens along to fill the void. She's always seen Justin as too stable, practical, and boring; like the life she already has. Portraying Justin as a 'catch' not a 'loser', shows the problem lies within Olivia, not Justin. All she knows of love is what she's read in books and poems or dreamt up in her head so her expectations are unrealistic. Throughout the movie Olivia battles reason and passion; heart and head.

3. Again, the movie isn’t about solving a crime. Olivia needs to have plenty of reason to suspect Danny and still choose to overlook them. Danny doesn't try to hold much back from her either. He knows how she feels about him and enjoys the little game they play with each other.

4. Covering up for Danny shows how far Olivia’s fallen for him. He has a hold on her that's so strong he doesn’t have to ask for help, she gives it willingly; risking her own fate. Her idea of love is grand gestures, people coming to each other's rescue. This is not the first time. When she runs off to Justin after the body is found, Justin specifically asks about Danny and senses something's on Olivia's mind. She says he’s all right and everything is fine. Supposedly, Justin's her only friend but she doesn't share her suspicions with him; it would be a betrayal of Danny.

5. Actually, this is in character for Danny. When he finds the women snooping he stays calm like nothing is wrong; he's charming, and also threatening. He knows full well what they’ve seen but makes light of it. Putting on a scene, showing anger isn't who he is. The contrast between the two women is telling. Olivia is more invested by what they find than Dora who is actually involved with him. Dora's realistic and didn't completely trust him. Olivia was hoping to find proof in his favor and continues to ignore all the red flags.

6. At this point Olivia doesn't need any more proof. She’s long known all she needs to know about Danny. For a moment, she starts to come out of the fog and, with reason, decides to save herself (both from him and, I suspect, from being a willing accomplice because she senses what he's about to do and does nothing to stop him). She warns her aunt to get out too but doesn't say why. The aunt probably wouldn't believe her but there's also the police. She leaves but, as always, the pull towards Danny is too strong. Even though she knows she’s in danger and knows what she'll likely find at the house, she goes right back there alone; never having made it to Justin’s house. The heart wins. She's even ready to die by his hand like some tragic love story but as he talks the fog lifts. He tries to talk his way out of trouble and probably could with her help but she doesn't defend him this time; she helps the police.

--

By the way, I was taken in by Danny’s charming ways too. That’s what makes Robert Montgomery’s performance so incredible. Everything points to him but I keep hoping he isn’t the bad guy he appears to be. He does seem like an angelic baby face; so innocent at times like he couldn’t hurt a fly yet the evil is always right there below the surface.