mamalv Review of Night Into Morning

Night Into Morning (1951)

Despair and sorrow enter into an idyllic life.

[8/10 · 29 March 2014]

A realistic look at the sorrow and despair that most human beings suffer after a sudden and horrific loss. This is a mature Ray Milland who suffers the loss of his wife and son in a home explosion. His grief is so raw that it overwhelms even those of us watching his spiral into darkness. He finds solace in alcoholic slumber only to wake and find it was not a dream but stark reality. This is not the story of an alcoholic as in his award winning role as Don Birnam in the Lost Weekend. Birnam was lost because of his disappointment in himself, not in grief over the loss of his loved ones. Milland once again proves he was a terrific actor, who could swing from crazy comedy to the depths of reality. Only after Nancy Kelly, who has also suffered a loss, comes to find him on the ledge of a building ready to jump, does he finally break down the shield of false bravado. An outstanding performance from Milland again.