- Night Has a Thousand Eyes
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Night Has a Thousand Eyes 
Directed by John Farrow Produced by Endre Bohem Written by Cornell Woolrich (novel)
Barré Lyndon
Jonathan LatimerStarring Edward G. Robinson
Gail Russell
John Lund
Virginia BruceMusic by Victor Young Cinematography John F. Seitz Editing by Eda Warren Distributed by Paramount Pictures Release date(s) October 13, 1948 (U.S. release) Running time 81 min. Language English - See also The Night Has a Thousand Eyes (disambiguation).
Night Has a Thousand Eyes is a 1948 film noir, starring Edward G. Robinson and directed by John Farrow. The screenplay was written by Barré Lyndon and Jonathan Latimer. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Cornell Woolrich.
Contents
Plot
The film opens in San Francisco, where John Triton (Robinson) is "The Mental Wizard", a nightclub fortune teller. During a show one evening, Triton suddenly urges an audience member to rush home, cautioning that her son is in danger. As the story unfolds, Triton struggles with his newfound psychic ability, as all of his relentlessly bleak predictions prove accurate. Jerome Cowan (of Maltese Falcon fame) plays Whitney Courtland, Triton's best friend, who becomes wealthy using tips from the now-psychic Triton.
Critical reaction
The film is generally praised for its gloomy adaptation of Woolrich's writing. Time Out Film Guide, however (in spite of praising the cinematography by John F. Seitz), gives the thriller a negative review:
"Aside from the fine opening sequence -- Lund's rescue of Gail Russell from the brink of suicide, and discovery of her mortal terror of the stars -- a disappointing adaptation of Cornell Woolrich's superb novel."[1]
In his book Art of Noir, Eddie Muller writes: "No film more faithfully captured Woolrich's sense of doomed predestination than Night Has a Thousand Eyes."
Featured cast
Actor Role Edward G. Robinson John Triton 'The Mental Wizard' Gail Russell Jean Courtland John Lund Elliott Carson Virginia Bruce Jenny Courtland William Demarest Lt. Shawn Richard Webb Peter Vinson Jerome Cowan Whitney Courtland Music
The film's main theme (written by Jerry Brainin and Buddy Bernier) has gone on to become a jazz standard, having been recorded by Horace Silver, Carmen McRae, Paul Desmond and John Coltrane, among others.
References
External links
Bibliography
- Eddie Muller (2002). Art of Noir. Overlook Hardcover. ISBN 1-58567-073-1.
1930s West of Shanghai (1937) · She Loved a Fireman (1937) · The Invisible Menace (1938) · My Bill (1938) · The Saint Strikes Back (1939) · Sorority House (1939) · Five Came Back (1939) · Full Confession (1939)1940s Wake Island (1942) · Commandos Strike at Dawn (1942) · China (1943) · You Came Along (1945) · Two Years Before the Mast (1946) · Calcutta (1947) · The Big Clock (1948) · Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1948) · Alias Nick Beal (1949) · Red, Hot and Blue (1949)1950s Where Danger Lives (1950) · Copper Canyon (1950) · His Kind of Woman (1951) · Submarine Command (1951) · Botany Bay (1953) · Ride, Vaquero! (1953) · Plunder of the Sun (1953) · Hondo (1953) · The Sea Chase (1955) · Back from Eternity (1956) · The Unholy Wife (1957) · John Paul Jones (1959)Categories:- 1948 films
- Film noir
- Films directed by John Farrow
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