DramaCrime

The Midnight Story

- The strangest manhunt in the history of crime!

Beloved priest Father Thomasino is murdered in a San Francisco alley, and the police have few clues. But traffic cop Joe Martini becomes obsessed with finding the killer; he suspects Sylvio Malatesta. Ordered off the case, Joe turns in his badge and investigates alone. Soon he is a close friend of the Malatesta family, all delightful people, especially lovely cousin Anna. Uncertain whether Sylvio is guilty or innocent, Joe is now torn between old and new loyalties.

Release Date : 1957-06-04

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Universal International Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Joe Martini

Original Name : Tony Curtis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sylvio Malatesta

Original Name : Gilbert Roland

Gender : Male

Character Name : Anna Malatesta

Original Name : Marisa Pavan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sgt. Jack Gillen

Original Name : Jay C. Flippen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mama Malatesta

Original Name : Argentina Brunetti

Gender : Female

Character Name : Lt. Kilrain

Original Name : Ted de Corsia

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pietro "Peanuts" Malatesta

Original Name : Richard Monda

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rosa Cuneo

Original Name : Kathleen Freeman

Gender : Female

Character Name : Charlie Cuneo

Original Name : Herb Vigran

Gender : Male

Character Name : Veda Pinelli

Original Name : Peggy Maley

Gender : Female

Character Name : Father Giuseppe

Original Name : John Cliff

Gender : Male

Character Name : Det. Sgt. Sommers

Original Name : Russ Conway

Gender : Male

Character Name : Frankie Pellatrini

Original Name : Chico Vejar

Gender : Male

Character Name : Grocer

Original Name : Tito Vuolo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mother Catherine

Original Name : Helen Wallace

Gender : Female

Character Name : Frank Wilkins

Original Name : James Hyland

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Bobby Barber

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pool Player (uncredited)

Original Name : Richard Benedict

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Audrey Betz

Gender : Female

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Nina Borget

Gender : Female

Character Name : Counterman (uncredited)

Original Name : Chet Brandenburg

Gender : Male

Character Name : Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Mary Chan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Spencer Chan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : W.T. Chang

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Cristo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Diner Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : James Dime

Gender : Male

Character Name : Boxing Match Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Sam Finn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chaperone at Dance (uncredited)

Original Name : Raoul Freeman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe Garcio

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cop (uncredited)

Original Name : Chuck Hamilton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Card Player (uncredited)

Original Name : John Indrisano

Gender : Male

Character Name : Father Tomasino (uncredited)

Original Name : David Leonard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doctor (uncredited)

Original Name : Tom McDonough

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Tina Menard

Gender : Female

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Ernesto Molinari

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Ralph Montgomery

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Anton Northpole

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Emma Palmese

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chaperone at Dance (uncredited)

Original Name : Jean Ransome

Gender : Female

Character Name : Boy at Dance (uncredited)

Original Name : Chris Robinson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Diner Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Edwin Rochelle

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Victor Romito

Gender : Male

Character Name : Card Player (uncredited)

Original Name : Tony Roux

Gender : Male

Character Name : Card Player (uncredited)

Original Name : Stephen Soldi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter (uncredited)

Original Name : Owen Song

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chaperone at Dance (uncredited)

Original Name : Hal Taggart

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chaperone at Dance (uncredited)

Original Name : Rodger Terry

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Theresa Testa

Gender : Male

Character Name : Restaurant Proprietor (uncredited)

Original Name : Sammee Tong

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lothario at Dance (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe Turkel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Vince de Paul (uncredited)

Original Name : Philip Van Zandt

Gender : Male

Character Name : Señora Betgatina (uncredited)

Original Name : Renata Vanni

Gender : Female

Character Name : Doctor (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Weber

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

This Martini is shaken but not stirred. The Midnight Story (AKA: Appointment With A Shadow) is directed by Joseph Pevney and written by Edwin Blum and John Robinson. It stars Tony Curtis, Marisa Pavan, Gilbert Roland and Jay C. Flippen. Music is by Joseph Gershenson and CinemaScope cinematography is by Russell Metty. When a San Francisco priest is murdered, friend of the priest, Joe Martini (Curtis), a traffic cop, gets a hunch and ingratiates himself into the family of the man he thinks is responsible. Somehow it has become one of those 1950s black and white crime movies entered into film noir publications. It doesn't belong in that particular filmic chest, but it does ask to be sought out by fans of such 1950s fare. In actuality it's a whodunit? Thrusting a handsome and restrained Curtis into a murder mystery while his emotions get whacked from all sides. Filmed (joyously so) and set in Frisco, the makers never once play their hand to reveal what the finale will bring. The everyday life of a working and loving Italian-American family is vividly brought to life, luring us in to their world as intrigued but concerned observers - the North Beach District a sweaty backdrop just waiting to spill its secrets. Pevney keeps things brisk, never letting things sag, even as the inevitable romantic thread dangles (it's 1950s Tony Curtis after all), there's always an air of suspicion and mystery pulsing away in the narrative. Curtis fronts up for dressage, but delivers promise on an interesting role, but it's Roland's movie all the way. A damn fine turn that only comes to being in the final quarter. In support there is the sturdy presence of Flippen and Ted de Corsia, both of whom leave a telling mark. Each and all building to a finale, which may not contain the wallop one had hoped, but strikes a positive note and rounds it out as a film to seek out. 7/10

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-11-11

Tony Curtis is a keen San Francisco cop ("Joe") who is convinced that the killer of a local priest is none other than local crab fisherman "Malatesta" (Gilbert Roland). There's no evidence, though, and that man has a fairly cast iron alibi. His boss "KIlrain" (Ted de Corsia) tells him to forget it but he can't, so he quits and with a bit of off-the-books help from his sergeant "Gillen" (Jay C. Flippen) he sets out to ingratiate himself with his suspect. Against all the odds, they actually start to bond, and after a short while the older man suggests that "Joe" moves into the family home where he fits in well with "Mama" (Argentina Brunetti) and takes a bit of a shine to the tempestuous daughter "Anna" (Marisa Pavan). The longer he associates with this family, the more convinced he becomes that his hunch was wrong. Then, out of the blue, his old boss gets in touch with some startling information... Curtis is quite engaging here, as are the enthusiastic Pavan and Roland and as the story moves along we are all drawn into the seemingly delightful family scenario. There's a twist waiting for us. It's not one that's entirely unexpected but it quickly hurls us towards an ending that I found just a little rushed and disappointing. This is a solid story that just about manages to keep the romance at bay while the noir-elements prevail, and is still worth a gander.