Middle of the Night (1959)

50% of users liked it
(77 ratings)

Scripter Paddy Chayevsky altered his successful stageplay for this routine cinematic version of Middle of the Night, emphasizing the self-centered interests of the relatives and friends who surround Jerry Kingsley (Fredric March). Jerry is a widower, a lonely but successful clothing manufacturer who… More Scripter Paddy Chayevsky altered his successful stageplay for this routine cinematic version of Middle of the Night, emphasizing the self-centered interests of the relatives and friends who surround Jerry Kingsley (Fredric March). Jerry is a widower, a lonely but successful clothing manufacturer who falls in love with Betty Preisser (Kim Novak), one of his employees. The employee-boss relationship is one hurdle the erstwhile couple have to overcome, another is the thirty-year difference in their ages, and the last is the attitudes of the couples' relatives -- each close relative (mother, daughter, sister) feels marginated by the relationship, left out in the cold, forgotten. These attitudes do not bode well for any future walk up the aisle. Director Delbert Mann is best known for his 1955, award-winning Marty. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 58 min.
Directed By: Delbert Mann
Genres: Drama, Romance, Classics

In Theaters: Jun 17, 1959 Wide

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Old-fashioned sober drama.

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Solid drama of older March falling for young insecure Kim. Both leads are excellent, Kim in her peak years and having just come off of Vertigo is a neurotic mess but it fits her part, and present their flawed but decent characters simply. The people in their lives are shown in dark… More
Solid drama of older March falling for young insecure Kim. Both leads are excellent, Kim in her peak years and having just come off of Vertigo is a neurotic mess but it fits her part, and present their flawed but decent characters simply. The people in their lives are shown in dark tones perhaps a little heavily so perhaps to illustrated the disapproval of society to such a relationship in the 50's. It does lend a heavy tone to the film though since almost without exception they are a smothering and cruel bunch.