Tonight's Movie: That Midnight Kiss (1949) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

The MGM musical THAT MIDNIGHT KISS (1949) is now available on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

I've always been a huge fan of MGM musicals, but I don't recall this one being on TV much when I was growing up. I never saw it as a teenaged musicals fan, either on television or in a revival theater.

My records show I saw it on TNT many years ago, but it was during a time period of a few years where I have very little recall of the new-to-me movies I saw. I attribute this "movie amnesia" to it being when I was raising babies and not sleeping a lot!

So, although I'd seen it in the past, watching THAT MIDNIGHT KISS today was like watching a brand-new movie, and I really enjoyed it.

The plot's slightly weak in that the comedic aspects go on too long; the movie could have stood to be 10 minutes shorter than its 98 minutes. (IMDb's listing of a 96-minute running time is a bit off.) That said, running a little too long is the only negative; I quite enjoyed the movie thanks to the music, great cast and costumes, and brilliant Technicolor.

Kathryn Grayson plays Prudence, a Philadelphia soprano whose wealthy grandmother (Ethel Barrymore) runs a symphony and later an opera company.

Prudence has completed years of vocal training and wins the leading role in an opera to be conducted by Jose Iturbi.

Prudence isn't thrilled with the opera star (Thomas Gomez) she'll be singing with, and then she chances to meet Johnny Donnetti (Mario Lanza), a truck driver who's also a trained opera singer. Johnny ultimately wins the opera's leading role and Prudence's heart.

However, before the happy ending there's the matter of Johnny's relationship with his dispatcher Mary (Marjorie Reynolds) to be cleared up first...and the fact that while Mary loves Johnny, Johnny's best pal Artie (Keenan Wynn) loves Mary.

This was Lanza's first leading role, and he's really quite personable and handsome in this. MGM set him up for success by surrounding him with a cast of pros who also include Arthur Treacher, J. Carrol Naish, Jules Munshin, and Ann Codee. Amparo Iturbi, Jose's sister, also turns up for a piano duet with her brother.

Grayson looks gorgeous in Helen Rose gowns, Barrymore and Iturbi are always fun, the music is enjoyable, and this film is basically just a lovely diversion which I was very glad to watch today.

The movie was written by Tamara Hovey and Bruce Manning, directed by Norman Taurog, and filmed in Technicolor by Robert Surtees.

The Warner Archive Blu-ray print is from a new 1080p HD master from 4K scans of the original Technicolor nitrate negatives. It looks and sounds fantastic.

Extras consist of a song outtake; the cartoons SENIOR DROOPY (1949) and HEAVENLY PUSS (1949); the trailer; and an always-welcome song selection menu.

Here's hoping Grayson and Lanza's THE TOAST OF NEW ORLEANS (1950) will also be out on a Warner Archive Blu-ray before long.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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