LILI DAMITA is supposed to be the star of THIS IS THE NIGHT, but the heavily accented French actress did not exactly bowl me over with her performance here. She's merely window dressing and pouts her way through a role with little substance.
But the supporting cast is excellent. ROLAND YOUNG, although miscast as a leading man, gets into wacky situations along with CHARLIE RUGGLES and THELMA TODD in this light-hearted bedroom farce wherein LILI DAMITA is hired by Young to pose as his adoring wife.
Blue tint is used for all of the night scenes in Venice and the photography is surprisingly crisp and clear for a film made in 1932. Some of the dialog is spoken in musical rhymes, surprising since most early sound films did not emphasize music at all, not even background music in many films of the early '30s.
It's a refreshing, funny, amusing sort of light comedy that uses a lot of cinema techniques that put it ahead of the usual fare from this era. As for Miss Damita (who later married Errol Flynn), I found her less than impressive both as a comedienne and as a looker. THELMA TODD, on the other hand, gives a more expert demonstration of comic ability.
CARY GRANT, in his film debut, at 27, is darkly handsome and shows assurance and a flair for acting that would serve him well through his long career.
But the supporting cast is excellent. ROLAND YOUNG, although miscast as a leading man, gets into wacky situations along with CHARLIE RUGGLES and THELMA TODD in this light-hearted bedroom farce wherein LILI DAMITA is hired by Young to pose as his adoring wife.
Blue tint is used for all of the night scenes in Venice and the photography is surprisingly crisp and clear for a film made in 1932. Some of the dialog is spoken in musical rhymes, surprising since most early sound films did not emphasize music at all, not even background music in many films of the early '30s.
It's a refreshing, funny, amusing sort of light comedy that uses a lot of cinema techniques that put it ahead of the usual fare from this era. As for Miss Damita (who later married Errol Flynn), I found her less than impressive both as a comedienne and as a looker. THELMA TODD, on the other hand, gives a more expert demonstration of comic ability.
CARY GRANT, in his film debut, at 27, is darkly handsome and shows assurance and a flair for acting that would serve him well through his long career.