So Dark the Night (1946)

So Dark the Night is a 1946 American crime film with film noir influences, featuring Steven Geray, Micheline Cheirel, and Eugene Borden. Based on a story written by Aubrey Wisberg.

Director – Joseph H. Lewis

Writers – Martin Berkeley (screenplay), Dwight V. Babcock (screenplay), Aubrey Wisberg (based on a story by)

Cast –
Steven Geray as Henri Cassin
Micheline Cheirel as Nanette Michaud
Eugene Borden as Pierre Michaud
Ann Codee as Mama Michaud
Egon Brecher as Dr. Boncourt
Helen Freeman as Widow Bridelle

Watch “So Dark the Night” (1946)

Plot

A Parisian detective, Henri Cassin (Steven Geray), falls in love with country innkeeper Pierre Michaud’s daughter Nanette (Micheline Cheirel) while on a long overdue vacation. She is a simple girl with a jealous boyfriend, Leon (Paul Marion). Nonetheless, the detective becomes engaged to her. On the night of her engagement party the girl vanishes and later turns up dead. Cassin believes that the obvious suspect is Leon, but soon he is also found killed. Soon after Nanette’s mother (Ann Codee) receives a warning that she will be the next to die, then is found strangled.

Pierre, fearing for his safety, decides to sell the inn. Henri returns to Paris, and using his investigative skill produces a rendering of the killer.

To Henri’s astonishment, the sketch is of himself. When he fits his shoe into the footprint, he realizes he is the murderer. After making a full confession to the police commissioner, Henri is evaluated by a psychiatrist, who determines that he is schizophrenic. Though placed under watch of a guard, Henri escapes back to St. Margot, where he tries to strangle Pierre. The police commissioner, who has followed the detective to the village, catches him in the act and shoots him dead.