Midnight Lace

Year:

1960

Duration:

110 min | 108 min (TCM print)

Genres:

Thriller | Mystery

IMDB rate:

6.9

Director:

David Miller

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 1960-11-25

Filming Locations: London, England, UK

Earnings

Gross: $7,400,000 (USA) Rentals $3,700,000 (USA)

Cast

Actor

Character

Joan Staley

Doris Day

Kit Preston

Rex Harrison

Anthony Preston

John Gavin

Brian Younger

Myrna Loy

Aunt Bea

Roddy McDowall

Malcolm Stanley

Herbert Marshall

Charles Manning

Natasha Parry

Peggy Thompson

Hermione Baddeley

Dora Hammer

John Williams

Inspector Byrnes

Richard Ney

Daniel Graham

Anthony Dawson

Roy Ash

Rhys Williams

Victor Elliot

Richard Lupino

Simon Foster

Hayden Rorke

Dr. Garver

Doris Lloyd

Nora Stanley - Housekeeper

Elspeth March

Woman

Peter Adams

Man at American Consulate

Rex Evans

Basil Stafford

Anna Cheselka

Swan Lake Ballet Dancer

Vladimir Oukhtomsky

Swan Lake Ballet Dancer

Leon Charles

(uncredited)

Paul Collins

Kevin (uncredited)

Terence de Marney

Tim (uncredited)

Roy Dean

Harry (uncredited)

Herbert Deans

(uncredited)

Anthony Eustrel

Luggage Salesman (uncredited)

James Fairfax

Bus Driver (uncredited)

Franklyn Farnum

Ballet Audience Spectator (uncredited)

Alex Finlayson

(uncredited)

Mary Flynn

Nurse (uncredited)

Peter Fontaine

Workman (uncredited)

James Forrest

Doorman (uncredited)

Joseph Gershenson

Orchestra Conductor (uncredited)

Michael Gibson

Cabby

Tony Haig

(uncredited)

Sam Harris

Man at Board Meeting / Ballet Audience Spectator (uncredited)

Barry Harvey

(uncredited)

Ramsay Hill

Blind Man (uncredited)

Richard Howe

Bobby (uncredited)

William Hummer

Boy (uncredited)

James Hyland

Policeman (uncredited)

Donald Journeaux

Porter (uncredited)

Kenner G. Kemp

Pub Patron (uncredited)

Colin Kenny

Pub Patron (uncredited)

Alma Lawton

(uncredited)

Donald Lawton

Bobby (uncredited)

Avis Lennard

Minor Role (uncredited)

Pamela Light

Beautician (uncredited)

Jack Livesey

Policeman (uncredited)

James Logan

Bobby (uncredited)

Keith McConnell

Policeman (uncredited)

Daphne McKay

Minor Role (uncredited)

Maurice Millard

(uncredited)

Harold Miller

Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Richard Peel

Tommy (uncredited)

George Pelling

(uncredited)

Marie Pringle

Minor Role (uncredited)

John Sheffield

Attendant (uncredited)

Cap Somers

Minor Role (uncredited)

Jacqueline Squire

Mother (uncredited)

Bert Stevens

Ballet Audience Spectator (uncredited)

Hal Taggart

Man at Board Meeting (uncredited)

Christine Thomas

(uncredited)

Towyna Thomas

(uncredited)

Tom Toner

Porter (uncredited)

Arthur Tovey

Man at Airport (uncredited)

Nelson Welch

(uncredited)

Yvonne White

(uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

In her autobiography, Doris Day wrote that to prepare herself for one of the terror scenes, she recalled a time when her first husband, trombonist Al Jorden, dragged her out of bed when she was ill and pregnant and hurled her against a wall. Day related that in the scene she wasn't acting hysterical, she WAS hysterical, and at the end of the take she collapsed in a real faint. She was carried to her dressing room, and producer Ross Hunter shut down production for a few days while she recovered.

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This was Doris Day's last dramatic film. She continued making films for another eight years all of which were comedies.

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Dictating his memoirs near the end of his life, 'Rex Harrison' barely mentioned "Midnight Lace" except to say that he wasn't fond of the script. He also (falsely) reported that 'Doris Day' was under so much pressure to make the picture work that she collapsed. Day was indeed under strain, though it was due to her personal form of method-acting that caused her breakdown, not from the script or the production.

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Goofs

When Brian Younger is walking by Kit Preston's building, he hears the door to the construction site squeaking loudly as it opens and shuts. A second later he goes through it, and the door makes no sound at all.

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When Kit Preston is pushed to the ground in front of a bus and is subsequently helped to her feet to leave the scene, her coat remains immaculately clean throughout, in spite of having fallen face down on a wet road.

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At the end of the movie, Kit is scared by the fireplace coals moving (making a sound). There is a decent size fire going. In just a matter of minutes, when her husband comes home and they turn off all lights, no fire or light from the fireplace is visible.

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Quotes

Creepy Voice: Careful, Mrs. Preston. I wouldn't want you to get hurt. Not yet. Is this interesting? Interesting? Yes No | Share this Share this: Facebook | Twitter | Permalink Hide options Creepy Voice: We all meet death somewhere along the way. Is this interesting? Interesting? Yes No | Share this Share this: Facebook | Twitter | Permalink Hide options Tony Preston: [opening door] Oh, it's you, Bea.

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Tony Preston: You wouldn't want an irresponsible husband.

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Brian Younger: Before the war I planned on being an architect. But that meant an office and four walls. I even sleep out under the stars whenever I can. Camping trips and things like that.

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Faq

Q

"Midnight Lace"---Did It Have Good Box Office?

A

Chicago Tribune, Friday, October 28, 1960:LOOKING AT HOLLYWOODby Hedda Hopper. . . . Ross Hunter's "Midnight Lace" is cleaning up at Radio City Music Hall, where it took in over $105,000 in four days, better business than all the Broadway theaqters put together._______________________________

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