DVD Review: Midnight Lace (1960)
Doris Day is generally thought of as the star of lightweight musical comedies, even by those who are aware of her dramatic turns in Hitchcock's "The Man Who Knew Too Much" (1956) and opposite James Cagney in Charles Vidor's "Love Me or Leave Me" (1955). In David Miller's "Midnight Lace" (1960), she effectively uses her established screen persona in the context of a mystery thriller during which she is stalked by an indefinable presence. Day was coming off the massively successful lightweight comedy "Pillow Talk" (1959) which netted her an Oscar nomination and helped define her screen career. "Midnight Lace" took her in a completely different direction, creatively. The film has just been released to blu ray by Kino Lorber.
Day plays an American heiress living in London with her financier husband whom she recently married. Walking home in dense fog, she hears a creepy recorded voice threatening her. Terrified, she runs home. Her husband (Rex Harrison) insists she was merely the victim of a practical joker. She accepts his explanation, but days later receives a phone call from the same voice. These incidents continue, driving her mad, as the trajectory of the story carries the audience through the mystery. In an effort to avoid spoilers, suffice it to say that the film has several surprises and maintains an effective pace to retain interest throughout.
Director Miller, who would go on to helm "Back Street" (1961) and "Lonely Are The Brave" (1962), was already established as able to cross genres and respond effectively to the screenplay. Directing everyone from John Wayne to The Marx Brothers, Miller uses Doris Day's ability to play innocence and vulnerability most effectively in this context. One of the more effective elements, chosen by the director, is that while we hear the voice when Day first encounters it in the fog, we never hear it in the phone conversations. We only hear Doris responding. Bright colors and elegant surroundings help to offset Day's bouts with mental anguish.
Doris Day is most effective as her character gradually unravels with each subsequent encounter. When she finally breaks, her trembling sobs are positively chilling. Doing such a film after something like "Pillow Talk" showed Doris Day's range as an actress.
"Midnight Lace" is filled with familiar faces in the supporting cast, including such heavyweights as Myrna Loy, Roddy McDowell, John Gavin, Herbert Marshall, Hermione Baddely, John Williams, and Rhys Williams. Centered in their characters, effective in their performances, the supporting cast is each off-kilter enough to establish a variety of red herrings so the outcome isn't too predictable. Everyone seems to be both beautiful and wealthy. Nobody seems like a secret terrorizer, and everyone does.
Regarding the Special Features, Kino Lorber's blu ray benefits greatly from the always welcome commentary track by film historian and writer Kat Ellinger of Diabolique Magazine. Kat's insights once again deepen our appreciation of the movie. She continues to be one of the finest commenters currently appearing on DVD product.
"Midnight Lace" is recommended and can be purchased at this link: Midnight Lace.