Clash by Night (
1952The year 1952 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 10 - Cecil B. DeMille's circus epic, The Greatest Show on Earth, premieres at Radio City Music Hall in New York City....
) is a
black-and-whiteBlack-and-white is a number of monochrome forms in visual arts. Most forms of visual technology start out in black and white, then slowly evolve into color as technology progresses....
film noirFilm noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as stretching from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
dramaDrama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a collective...
directed by
Fritz LangFriedrich "Fritz" Christian Anton Lang was an Austrian-German-American filmmaker, screenwriter, and occasional film producer and actor. One of the best known émigrés from Germany's school of Expressionism, he was dubbed the "Master of Darkness" by the British Film Institute...
and starring
Barbara StanwyckBarbara Stanwyck was an American actress, a star of film and television, known during her 60-year career as a consummate and versatile professional with a strong screen presence, and a favorite of directors such as Cecil B. DeMille, Fritz Lang and Frank Capra...
,
Paul DouglasPaul Douglas was an American actor.Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he is remembered by many for two baseball comedy movies, Angels in the Outfield and It Happens Every Spring...
,
Marilyn MonroeMarilyn Monroe , born Norma Jeane Mortenson, but baptized Norma Jeane Baker, was an American actress, singer and model....
and
Robert RyanRobert Bushnell Ryan was an American actor who often played hardened cops and ruthless villains.Ryan was born in Chicago, Illinois, the first child of Timothy Ryan and his wife Mabel Bushnell Ryan . He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1932, having held the school's heavyweight boxing title all...
. The movie was based on the play by
Clifford OdetsClifford Odets was an American playwright, screenwriter, socialist, and social protester.-Early life:Odets was born in Philadelphia of immigrant parents, Lou Odets and Esther Geisinger, and raised in the Bronx, New York. He dropped out of high school to pursue acting...
, adapted by writer Alfred Hayes. This was the first film in which Monroe was credited before the movie's title.
During the shooting, the now famous naked calendar photos of Monroe surfaced and reporters hounded the actress during the filming of the movie.
The film tells of Mae (Stanwyck) who returns to her home town, the small fishing village of
MontereyThe City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Variants of the city's name are recorded as Monte Rey and Montery. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of 2005, the city population was 30,641...
.
Clash by Night (
1952The year 1952 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 10 - Cecil B. DeMille's circus epic, The Greatest Show on Earth, premieres at Radio City Music Hall in New York City....
) is a
black-and-whiteBlack-and-white is a number of monochrome forms in visual arts. Most forms of visual technology start out in black and white, then slowly evolve into color as technology progresses....
film noirFilm noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as stretching from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
dramaDrama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a collective...
directed by
Fritz LangFriedrich "Fritz" Christian Anton Lang was an Austrian-German-American filmmaker, screenwriter, and occasional film producer and actor. One of the best known émigrés from Germany's school of Expressionism, he was dubbed the "Master of Darkness" by the British Film Institute...
and starring
Barbara StanwyckBarbara Stanwyck was an American actress, a star of film and television, known during her 60-year career as a consummate and versatile professional with a strong screen presence, and a favorite of directors such as Cecil B. DeMille, Fritz Lang and Frank Capra...
,
Paul DouglasPaul Douglas was an American actor.Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he is remembered by many for two baseball comedy movies, Angels in the Outfield and It Happens Every Spring...
,
Marilyn MonroeMarilyn Monroe , born Norma Jeane Mortenson, but baptized Norma Jeane Baker, was an American actress, singer and model....
and
Robert RyanRobert Bushnell Ryan was an American actor who often played hardened cops and ruthless villains.Ryan was born in Chicago, Illinois, the first child of Timothy Ryan and his wife Mabel Bushnell Ryan . He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1932, having held the school's heavyweight boxing title all...
. The movie was based on the play by
Clifford OdetsClifford Odets was an American playwright, screenwriter, socialist, and social protester.-Early life:Odets was born in Philadelphia of immigrant parents, Lou Odets and Esther Geisinger, and raised in the Bronx, New York. He dropped out of high school to pursue acting...
, adapted by writer Alfred Hayes. This was the first film in which Monroe was credited before the movie's title.
During the shooting, the now famous naked calendar photos of Monroe surfaced and reporters hounded the actress during the filming of the movie.
Plot
The film tells of Mae (Stanwyck) who returns to her home town, the small fishing village of
MontereyThe City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Variants of the city's name are recorded as Monte Rey and Montery. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of 2005, the city population was 30,641...
. She moves in with her brother Joe (
Keith AndesKeith Andes , born John Charles Andes, was an American actor, usually the second lead, in films in the 1950s and 1960s.- Early life :He was born in Ocean City, New Jersey as John Charles Andes on July 12, 1920...
) and although he is not happy to see her, he accepts her back into the family. She begins to date Jerry (Paul Douglas), a simple but hard working fisherman. She also has her eye on Earl Pfeiffer (Robert Ryan), a film projectionist. He makes his feelings for her known right even though he is married. Not long after Mae decides to marry Jerry.
Even after having a baby with Jerry, Mae becomes restless and because she is not in love with Jerry, she begins an affair with Earl. Jerry discovers the affair, and during a confrontation with the couple, Mae reveals that she is leaving Jerry to be with Earl.
After a few drinks and talk with his Uncle Vince (
J. Carrol NaishJoseph Patrick Carrol Naish was an American character actor born in New York City, New York. Naish did many film roles, but they were eclipsed when he found fame in the title role of radio's Life with Luigi, which surpassed Bob Hope in the 1950 ratings.Naish appeared on stage for several years...
), Jerry confronts Earl and a fight ensues. Jerry nearly strangles Earl until Mae arrives. Jerry leaves, but when Mae comes to their home to take her baby, she finds that Jerry has taken the child.
Background
This Odets' work was originally performed as a neo-realist Broadway play in 1941, with
Tallulah BankheadTallulah Brockman Bankhead was an American actress, talk-show host and bon vivant.- Early life and family :...
in the Stanwyck role. Fritz Lang changed the locale from
Staten IslandStaten Island is a borough of New York City in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
to a fishing village in California, but he kept intact the oppressive seacoast atmosphere.
The drama is structured into two almost equal parts and each is almost a complete drama in its own. The two parts are separated by a year in time. Each section begins with a non-fiction, documentary look at the fishing industry in Monterey, California. It then moves on to the story. Arguably, the motion picture is two films: each of around an hour's length and strung together as a serial.
The title of the film comes from Matthew Arnold's poem "Dover Beach" (
1851The year 1851 in literature involved some significant new books.-Events:*January 1 - The Georgian theatre company gives its first performance, under the direction of Giorgi Eristavi....
). Specifically: It is a place "where ignorant armies clash by night."
Cast
- Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck was an American actress, a star of film and television, known during her 60-year career as a consummate and versatile professional with a strong screen presence, and a favorite of directors such as Cecil B. DeMille, Fritz Lang and Frank Capra...
as Mae Doyle D'Amato
- Paul Douglas
Paul Douglas was an American actor.Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he is remembered by many for two baseball comedy movies, Angels in the Outfield and It Happens Every Spring...
as Jerry D'Amato
- Robert Ryan
Robert Bushnell Ryan was an American actor who often played hardened cops and ruthless villains.Ryan was born in Chicago, Illinois, the first child of Timothy Ryan and his wife Mabel Bushnell Ryan . He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1932, having held the school's heavyweight boxing title all...
as Earl Pfeiffer
- Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe , born Norma Jeane Mortenson, but baptized Norma Jeane Baker, was an American actress, singer and model....
as Peggy
- Keith Andes
Keith Andes , born John Charles Andes, was an American actor, usually the second lead, in films in the 1950s and 1960s.- Early life :He was born in Ocean City, New Jersey as John Charles Andes on July 12, 1920...
as Joe Doyle
- Silvio Minciotti as Papa D'Amato
- J. Carrol Naish
Joseph Patrick Carrol Naish was an American character actor born in New York City, New York. Naish did many film roles, but they were eclipsed when he found fame in the title role of radio's Life with Luigi, which surpassed Bob Hope in the 1950 ratings.Naish appeared on stage for several years...
as Uncle Vince
- Deborah Stewart as baby Gloria
- Diane Stewart as baby Gloria
- Robert F. Simon
Robert F. Simon was an American character actor, often portraying military or authority figure roles. Though his face was recognized by audiences, he was mostly unknown by name...
Critical reception
When the film first opened the staff at
VarietyVariety is a weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the Daily...
was harsh on the film but appreciated Barbara Stanwyck's work, writing, "Clifford Odets'
Clash by Night, presented on Broadway over a decade earlier, reaches the screen in a rather aimless drama of lust and passion.
Clash captures much of the drabness of the seacoast fishing town, background of the pic, but only occasionally does the narrative's suggested intensity seep through...Barbara Stanwyck plays the returning itinerant with her customary defiance and sullenness. It is one of her better performances. Robert Ryan plays the other man with grim brutality while Marilyn Monroe is reduced to what is tantamount to a bit role."
Critic Sam Adams wrote about Fritz Lang directorial style, "Restraint was never Fritz Lang's problem. Indeed, his version of Clifford Odets'
Clash by Night is overwrought verging on camp... In
Clash's wild kingdom, strong women can only be sated by the threat of male violence: After she marries sturdy lug Paul Douglas, Stanwyck is unerringly drawn towards Ryan's volatile woman-hater, while fish-canner Marilyn Monroe shows her affection to fiance Keith Andes by socking him in the arm, a gesture he threatens to return in spades. Lang tilled the same turf two years later in
Human DesireHuman Desire is a black-and-white film noir directed by Fritz Lang, and based on the novel La Bête humaine by Émile Zola. The story was made twice before in film: La Bête humaine directed by Jean Renoir and Die Bestie im Menschen .-Plot:Hard-drinking Carl Buckley is a railroad worker fired from...
, a similarly heavy-handed expose of man's bestial nature. Perhaps Lang should have stuck with the style of
Clash's extraordinary, near-wordless opening, which begins with shots of seagulls and seals and slowly mixes in the actors in their natural habitats."
Critic Dennis Schwartz wrote, "The performances are stagy but filled with fiery emotion. The performers are able to bring out the complexities underlying each of their characters as they battle each other, hoping not to die of loneliness or of cynicism. Everything about these characters and their alienation seemed natural something that was grounded by Lang's showing them at work, never cutting them off from all the other travails they were going through. Lang's point is how easy it is not to see the faults in yourself, as easy as it is to see them in someone else.
Clash by Night brilliantly tells how some lonely folks break out from their shadowy existence, as if that darkness was a prison where survival at any cost is the name of the game."
The review aggregator
Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films. The name derives from the historical cliché of throwing tomatoes and other produce at stage performers if a performance was particularly bad.- History :...
reported that 92% of critics gave the film a positive review, based on 11 reviews, marking the film as "Fresh."
Adaptation
Another production of the Odets play was directed by
John FrankenheimerJohn Michael Frankenheimer was an American filmmaker. He is known for making The Manchurian Candidate , Birdman of Alcatraz , The Train, and Seven Days in May ....
for
Playhouse 90Playhouse 90 is a 90-minute dramatic television anthology series, telecast on CBS from 1956 to 1961 for a total of 133 episodes. Since live anthology drama series of the mid-1950s were hour-long shows, the title highlighted the network's intention to present something unusual, a weekly series of...
on June 13, 1957 with
Kim StanleyKim Stanley was an American actress, primarily in theatre but with occasional film performances.Stanley began her acting career in theatre, and subsequently attended the The Actors Studio...
in the lead role.
External links
...