Middle of the Night
| Middle of the Night | |
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Film poster
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| Directed by | Delbert Mann |
| Produced by | George Justin |
| Written by | Paddy Chayefsky |
| Starring |
Fredric March Kim Novak |
| Cinematography | Joseph C. Brun |
| Edited by | Carl Lerner |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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118 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1.5 million (est. US/ Canada rentals) |
| "Middle of the Night" | |
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| The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 7 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | Delbert Mann |
| Written by | Paddy Chayefsky |
| Production code | Showcase Productions |
| Original air date | 19 September 1954 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
Middle of the Night is a 1959 American drama film directed by Delbert Mann, and released by Columbia Pictures. It was entered into the 1959 Cannes Film Festival. It stars Fredric March and Kim Novak. The screenplay was adapted by Paddy Chayefsky from his Broadway play of the same name.
A 24-year-old divorcee, Betty Preisser, a receptionist for a clothing manufacturer, takes some office work home. Her boss, widower Jerry Kingsley, a man of 56, drops by to pick up the documents.
Professional acquaintances but not personal ones, Betty tells Jerry of her loveless marriage to George, a musician. Jerry has a daughter about her age, Lillian, and also a spinster sister, Evelyn, who is very protective of him.
Jerry works up the nerve to invite Betty to dinner. He meets Betty's mother, Mrs. Mueller, and sister Alice, who share the apartment with Betty. Their relationship grows, but she professes to be leery of dating her employer. Jerry wonders if their age difference is really behind her reluctance. Despite this, a May–December romance between them develops.
Family members strongly disapprove. Mrs. Mueller calls him a "dirty old man," while Jerry's sister calls Betty a "fortune hunter" and him a fool. Lillian's husband Jack offers congratulations, earning scorn from his wife and causing them to quarrel. A colleague, Walter Lockman, trapped in a long and unhappy marriage, urges Jerry to do whatever it takes to find true happiness.
George returns to town and tries to persuade Betty to return to him. In a moment of weakness, they have a romantic tryst. Betty regrets it and explains to Jerry that it meant nothing to her emotionally, but he feels humiliated.
His sister observes how depressed Jerry has become when he returns home. At his lowest ebb, he learns that Walter has taken an overdose of pills in a likely suicide attempt. Jerry sees it as a sign to seize the joy in life while he still can. He returns to Betty's waiting arms.
E.G. Marshall
Eva Marie Saint
Anna Berger
Pat Crowley
Steven Hill
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Wikipedia