Eyes in the Night

Director: Fred Zinnemann Fred Zinnemann

Overview

"This DVD is a genuine surprise, not only as one of the very few MGM titles (and the only mystery that this reviewer can think of) to turn up on a public domain list, but also for the sheer quality of the source material. Some of Alpha Video's work is very good, but Eyes In The Night is the best this reviewer has seen, with a source print as good as any seen on a public domain DVD to date and with no technical flaws whatsoever. The six chapters are hardly adequate to break down this movie, which is about as complicated as the plot to any of the Thin Man movies, but that simply shows off the limitations of Alpha Video's productions -- the authoring and the transfer of the disc are perfect, and the sound is as good as anything in Alpha's (or any other public domain company's) library. What's more, the movie has so many virtues, owing to its origins, that this is one low-priced DVD that will pay dividends of several hundred percent in value."

Product Details

Release Date:	02/18/2003
UPC:	0089218410795
Original Release:	1942
Rating:	NR
Source:	Alpha Video
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[B&W]
Language:	English
Time:	1:20:00
Sales rank:	55,702

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Edward Arnold	Duncan Maclain
Ann Harding	Norma Lawry
Donna Reed	Barbara Lawry
Horace (Stephen) McNally	Gabriel Hoffman,Gabriel Hoffman
Allen Jenkins	Marty
John Emery	Paul Gerente,Cheli Scott
Reginald Denny	Stephen Lawry
Rosemary DeCamp	Vera Hoffman
Stanley Ridges	Hansen
Barry Nelson	Busch
Steven Geray	Anderson
Erik Rolf	Boyd
Reginald Sheffield	Victor
Ivan Miller	Herman
Milburn Stone	Pete
Mantan Moreland	Alistair
Cliff Danielson	Boy
Frances Rafferty	Girl
Edward Kilroy	Pilot
John Butler	Driver
William Nye	Hugo
Frank M. Thomas	Police Lieutenant
Marie Windsor	Actress
Fred Walburn	Boy
Robert Winkler	Boy
Walter Tetley	Boy
Dog: Friday	Actor
Lennie Hayton	Composer

Technical Credits

Howard Rogers

Guy Troper

Jack Chertok	Producer
Fred Zinnemann	Director
Howard Rogers	Screenwriter
Guy Troper	Screenwriter
Douglas Shearer	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Eyes in the Night turns on a gimmick, that of a blind detective, which premise has been used in books, TV and films a number of times. Although its use in Eyes requires a stretching of belief in some cases, it is used mostly effectively here, helping to add interest to a screenplay that is otherwise nothing more than a routine thriller. It's put together well enough, but with little to distinguish it other than its gimmick. That Eyes manages to stand out slightly is due more to its cast and director than it script. Edward Arnold is quite good as the detective, using his imposing girth to good effect and letting that distinctive growl of a voice lend force to simple statements. Arnold's bulldog face is a bit more relaxed here than in many of his filsm, but he's still an imposing presence. He gets solid support from Ann Harding, Donna Reed and his quite good dog, Friday. In his second feature, Fred Zinnemann is competent and assured. He is not yet in a position to really make a mark, but his work keeps the picture moving and involving -- and his "in the dark" shoot-out is really quite inventively done.