Night After Night was released on October 30, 1932, and is notable as George Raft’s first leading man role and the debut of Mae West.
In a memorable scene, a hat-check girl enthuses over Mae West’s jewels, “Goodness, what beautiful diamonds,” and she replies, “Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie.” The diamonds were real and belonged to Mae West.
George once said, “She stole everything but the cameras.” They had known each other in New York before coming to Hollywood and he suggested her for the role. They were friends for over fifty years, dying only three days apart in 1980.
In this drama sprinkled with comedic elements, George plays a retired boxer who buys a speakeasy that was the former mansion of socialite, Constance Cummings. Despite having fallen on hard times, she visits the speakeasy nightly and George sets his sights on the classy beauty, but gangsters want to take over the club and trouble follows.
This pre-Code release is a fine example of the freedom early film makers had to express a vision without constraint including sexy scenes and risqué dialogue. George handled a nude scene with a natural ease under the able direction of Archie Mayo and to the delight of his fans. Two years later this would not have been possible.
According to Filmink, “This picture is best remembered today for introducing Mae West to cinema audiences – and she’s brilliant – but Raft was excellent too as a former gangster turned nightclub manager who is having a midlife crisis.”
A classic, pre-Code Hollywood film, Night After Night is not widely available, but Amazon currently has the DVD, Blue-ray and VHS versions on offer. Archive.org has it though it might not run properly or be complete given the source.
