Blues in the Night (1946)

Blues in the Night (1946)

starring Priscilla Lane, Betty Field, Richard Whorf

written by Robert Rossen

directed by Anatole Litvak

88 minutes

Jazz pianist Jigger Pine (Richard Whorf) and his band travel around, improving their music. They add musicians and singer Ginger "Character" Powell (Priscilla Lane) to their group during their travels. They finally settle down in a New Jersey joint, The Jungle, run by Del Davis. Trumpeter Leo Powell, Character's husband, strikes up a more than friendly relationship with Kay Grant (Betty Field), Del's ex-girlfriend. Leo remains more than friendly with Kay until he learns that Character is pregnant with their child.

Leo and the others insist that Character step down from performing while she is expecting. Kay tries to step up into that role but she doesn't have the chops and shows no interest in putting in the work to improve her singing abilities. Jigger shows an interest in Kay which she reciprocates until she finds something better. The movie ends in an explosive way as Kay has a showdown with her no good ex-boyfriend and then briefly goes on the run with Brad Ames, a former guitar player and employee of the Jungle.

Thoughts

I saw this movie as part of the 2026 Noir City DC film festival at the AFI Silver Theater. I had not seen it before. Eddie Muller, the Czar of Noir, introduced the movie.

The song Blues in the Night was written specifically for this movie. It was one of the songs nominated for Best Song at the Academy Awards. It is probably one of the best known blues songs. I didn't know the title of the song but I recognized it as soon as it was performed for the first time.

I enjoyed this movie but mostly for the music and not the story. It is very melodramatic and formulaic. It is not a film noir but the way it ends felt like something out of film noir.

Notes

I have seen Priscilla Lane in two other films, one of which was Arsenic and Old Lace (1944). This is the only movie that Betty Field was in that I have seen in two or more decades. She appeared in one episode each of Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. I have seen Richard Whorf in a couple other movies, one of which was Christmas Holiday (1944). I've also seen him in and episode of Four Star Playhouse, 1.03 The Lost Silk Hat.

Lloyd Nolan played the part of Del Davis. I've seen him in a few other films including, most recently, Bataan (1943). Jack Carson played the part of Leo Powell. I've seen him in a few other films including Mildred Pierce (1945). He also appeared in one episode each of Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) and The Twilight Zone (1959). Wallace Ford played the part of Brad. I've seen him in a few movies including The Set-Up (1949). Elia Kazan played the part of one of the members of the band. He is best known as a director. This is one of just seven acting credits for him.

This movie was based on an unproduced play called Hot Nocturne by Edwin Gilbert. The screenplay was written by Robert Rossen. I have seen at least four other films that were written by Rossen, including All the King's Men (1949).

This is the second film I have seen that was directed by Anatole Litvak. The other was Sorry, Wrong Number (1948).