Between Midnight and Dawn offers a refreshing departure from the typical film noir conventions. Set apart by its focus on "the beat cop" and a daring romantic subplot involving a ménage à trois of sorts, the film delivers a unique experience for noir enthusiasts.
The story revolves around two beat cops and best friends, Rocky Barnes (Mark Stevens) and Daniel Purvis (Edmond O'Brien), who fought together in World War II. Rocky embodies a more easygoing nature, harboring hope for the reformation of certain criminals, while Purvis adopts a cynical and tough-on-crime stance.
The introduction of the menacing gangster Ritchie Garris (Donald Buka) adds tension to the narrative, as he interacts with both Barnes and Purvis, engaging in heated exchanges. Gale Robbins portrays Garris's girlfriend, Terry Romaine, whose fate becomes a pivotal moment of realization for Purvis, the sole surviving beat cop.
When Garris eliminates a rival mobster, he is apprehended, convicted, and sentenced to death for murder. However, an improbable escape from a jail infirmary allows Garris to seek revenge on Barnes and Purvis, the officers who initially arrested him.
Tragically, Barnes is shot and killed by Garris during a patrol car ride, showcasing a well-crafted and shocking moment that underscores the risks faced by law enforcement officers in their line of duty.
The culmination of the crime story feels somewhat perfunctory. Garris's unlikely behavior leads him to visit his girlfriend's apartment, where he is ultimately surrounded by the police following a statewide manhunt.
In a fitting display of resilience, Purvis confronts Garris and saves a young girl whom the antagonist was holding hostage.
What truly sets "Between Midnight and Dawn" apart is its compelling romantic subplot. Both cops vie for the affections of Katherine Mallory (Gale Storm), a police radio operator and clerical worker whose father, also a police officer, died in the line of duty.
Mallory plays coy, resisting the advances of both Barnes and Purvis, but eventually relents and begins to develop feelings for Barnes, the more tender-hearted of the two.
The death of Barnes brings Purvis and Mallory closer together, and it becomes evident in the final scene that they are destined to become a couple.
Importantly, Purvis's acknowledgment to Mallory that Garris's girlfriend may have redeemed herself by saving his life potentially influences Mallory's decision. Earlier, Purvis had dismissed Romaine as a "tramp" with little chance of redemption.
The film features intelligent dialogue between the protagonists, and their interactions with the strong-willed female lead prove engaging. While the crime story adheres to the standard noir formula, the inclusion of the romantic subplot enhances the depth of the main characters, making "Between Midnight and Dawn" a noir film worth watching.
The story revolves around two beat cops and best friends, Rocky Barnes (Mark Stevens) and Daniel Purvis (Edmond O'Brien), who fought together in World War II. Rocky embodies a more easygoing nature, harboring hope for the reformation of certain criminals, while Purvis adopts a cynical and tough-on-crime stance.
The introduction of the menacing gangster Ritchie Garris (Donald Buka) adds tension to the narrative, as he interacts with both Barnes and Purvis, engaging in heated exchanges. Gale Robbins portrays Garris's girlfriend, Terry Romaine, whose fate becomes a pivotal moment of realization for Purvis, the sole surviving beat cop.
When Garris eliminates a rival mobster, he is apprehended, convicted, and sentenced to death for murder. However, an improbable escape from a jail infirmary allows Garris to seek revenge on Barnes and Purvis, the officers who initially arrested him.
Tragically, Barnes is shot and killed by Garris during a patrol car ride, showcasing a well-crafted and shocking moment that underscores the risks faced by law enforcement officers in their line of duty.
The culmination of the crime story feels somewhat perfunctory. Garris's unlikely behavior leads him to visit his girlfriend's apartment, where he is ultimately surrounded by the police following a statewide manhunt.
In a fitting display of resilience, Purvis confronts Garris and saves a young girl whom the antagonist was holding hostage.
What truly sets "Between Midnight and Dawn" apart is its compelling romantic subplot. Both cops vie for the affections of Katherine Mallory (Gale Storm), a police radio operator and clerical worker whose father, also a police officer, died in the line of duty.
Mallory plays coy, resisting the advances of both Barnes and Purvis, but eventually relents and begins to develop feelings for Barnes, the more tender-hearted of the two.
The death of Barnes brings Purvis and Mallory closer together, and it becomes evident in the final scene that they are destined to become a couple.
Importantly, Purvis's acknowledgment to Mallory that Garris's girlfriend may have redeemed herself by saving his life potentially influences Mallory's decision. Earlier, Purvis had dismissed Romaine as a "tramp" with little chance of redemption.
The film features intelligent dialogue between the protagonists, and their interactions with the strong-willed female lead prove engaging. While the crime story adheres to the standard noir formula, the inclusion of the romantic subplot enhances the depth of the main characters, making "Between Midnight and Dawn" a noir film worth watching.