One Exciting Night (1944 film)

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One Exciting Night
"One Exciting night" (1944).jpg
Song sheet movie tie-in
Directed by Walter Forde
Written byPeter Fraser
Howard Irving Young
Story byPeter Fraser
Produced by Ben Henry
Starring Vera Lynn
Donald Stewart
Frederick Leister
Cinematography Otto Heller
Edited by Terence Fisher
Music by Harry Bidgood
Production
company
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release dates
  • 4 December 1944 (1944-12-04)(United Kingdom)
  • 26 July 1945 (1945-07-26)(United States)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

One Exciting Night (also known as You Can't Do Without Love) is a 1944 British musical comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Vera Lynn, Donald Stewart and Mary Clare. [1] [2] The screenplay was by Peter Fraser and Howard Irving Young and concerns a female singer who becomes involved with a man who is the victim of a kidnap plot.

Contents

Plot

Vera Baker is an aspiring singer desperate for an opportunity to impress producer Michael Thorne. Her chance arrives at a benefit concert that is also the scene of an attempted kidnapping of Thorne by gangsters chasing a priceless Rembrandt. Vera somehow eventually thwarts the villains, and along the way manages to wow the audience with her singing.

Cast

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The film gives Vera Lynn many opportunities for singing, which she does better than acting. There are a few thrills and plenty of fun, and admirers of Richard Murdoch will delight in seeing him as a loquacious illusionist. Although an 'A' film it is eminently suited for family entertainment." [3]

Kine Weekly wrote: "The plot is neither tidy nor original, but on the other hand it leaves nothing out. Furthermore, its hectic medley of slapstick, song, cabaret and thick ear, culminating with a spectacular 'safety last' finale, throws into effective and showmanlike relief the engaging versatility of the 'Forces Favourite.' In other words, it's good Vera Lynn." [4]

Leslie Halliwell wrote "Very ho-hum stuff for a very popular but histrionically untried star." [5]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Not unpleasant mixture of thrills, songs and fun." [6]

TV Guide called the film a "decent musical farce." [7]

References

  1. ↑ "One Exciting Night". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  2. ↑ "BFI | Film & TV Database | ONE EXCITING NIGHT (1944)". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "One Exciting Night". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 11 (121): 100. 1 January 1944. ProQuest   1305807686.
  4. ↑ "One Exciting Night". Kine Weekly . 330 (1946): 21. 3 August 1944. ProQuest   2732595018.
  5. ↑ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 757. ISBN   0586088946.
  6. ↑ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 237. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.
  7. ↑ "You Can't Do Without Love Review". Movies.tvguide.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
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