History Is Made at Night

First of all, this is a powerful romantic film, directed by one of Hollywood's masters of Romance, Frank Borzage. Jean Arthur stars as Irene Veil, in a role different from the usual stuff we expect from her.... she portrays this character, sensitively, luminously, almost with an ethereal quality, but at the same time very humanly. She's simply terrific.

Charles Boyer, is great as Paul Dumond, a headwaiter who falls madly in love with her, and after watching him in this 1937 film, one understands why he became the continental lover per-se, the epitome of the romantic and sensitive hearthrob.

There's wonderful chemistry between the two leads, sadly they never worked together again.

The picture also features outstanding performances by Colin Clive (star of "Frankenstein" and "The Bride of Frankenstein"), who plays Bruce Veil, Arthur's megalomaniac husband, and Leo Carrillo, who impersonates wonderfully a Chef who's Boyer's best friend.

Apart from being a romantic film, this movie has very dramatic moments indeed, but at the same time has fine lightweit comic touches, here and there.

In all a great poetic & ultimately romantic melodrama, with comedy touches, featuring a very warm and credible love story, between two human beings, who meet by chance. Great!!!


History Is Made At Night - And Good Movies Were Once Made   August 26, 2000
Brandan Thomas (Philadelphia, PA USA)
Superior romantic drama, strong lead performances. One cannot help but notice the similarities between this film and TITANIC of 1997. A poor man falls in love with a rich woman who is betrothed to a posessive, slightly mad wealthy man, with everything changed by a big piece of ice. For 1937, the special effects are marvelous, surprisingly well detailed. The model ship used look suspiciously like the fabulous NORMANDIE.


History is made at night   January 27, 2000
This is an incredible movie when you consider when it was made (1937). Charles Boyer was just making his mark as a leading man. Jean Arthur has a down home quality even in her voice as she is swept off her feet by Boyer. Colin Clive is absolutely sinister as her always suspicious husband who goes so far as to set up a indiscretion with the cheauffer which backfires. But the character who steals the show is Leo Carillo. He plays Boyer's best friend and reknown chef, Caesar.His broken english is a howl as he gives advice and tries to understand and support his friend. Some of his lines are classic. When on deck of the ship coming to America he points to the buildings and says to Boyer, "Hey, Paul, Looka dose skywipers". He provides the comedy relief throughout with real style. This is a great movie. The ocean liner crashing into the iceberg must have made a great impact on audiences since the Titanic tragedywas still fresh in their minds. The special effects for the time were outstanding. And the ending was great.