Night Must Fall
Performance & Direction: Night Must Fall Review
Last updated: February 17, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Night Must Fall (1937) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.9/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Mystery.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Mystery is often anchored by its ensemble, and Night Must Fall features a noteworthy lineup led by Robert Montgomery . Supported by the likes of Rosalind Russell and May Whitty , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: Night Must Fall
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 1937, Night Must Fall is a Mystery, Thriller film directed by Richard Thorpe. The narrative presents a compelling narrative that engages viewers from start to finish. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Robert Montgomery.
Ending Explained: Night Must Fall
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Richard Thorpe, Night Must Fall concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to mystery resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes involving Robert Montgomery, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the mystery themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Night Must Fall reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Night Must Fall?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Mystery films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Robert Montgomery or the director
- Want solid genre entertainment
Box Office Collection: Night Must Fall
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $589.0K |
| Worldwide Gross | $1.0M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Night Must Fall Budget
The estimated production budget for Night Must Fall is $589.0K. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Night Must Fall
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Where to Watch Night Must Fall Online?
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Amazon VideoApple TV StoreFandango At HomeNight Must Fall Parents Guide & Age Rating
1937 AdvisoryWondering about Night Must Fall age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Night Must Fall is 116 minutes (1h 56m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.9/10, and global performance metrics, Night Must Fall is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 1937 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Night Must Fall worth watching?
Night Must Fall is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Mystery movies. It has a verified rating of 6.9/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Night Must Fall parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Night Must Fall identifies it as NR. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Night Must Fall?
The total duration of Night Must Fall is 116 minutes, which is approximately 1h 56m long.
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How Night Must Fall Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for Night Must Fall
You'll be the death of me. You really will. Night Must Fall is directed by Richard Thorpe and adapted to screenplay John Van Druten from the Emlyn Williams play. It stars May Whitty, Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell, Merle Tottenham, Alan Marshal, Matthew Boulton and Kathleen Harrison. Music is by Edward Ward and cinematography by Ray June. When the rich but cantankerous dowager Mrs. Branson (Whitty) hires engaging but mysterious handyman Danny (Montgomery), her niece/companion Olivia (Russell) becomes suspicious of his motives. Emlyn Williams play (he played the role of Danny himself on the stage) is brought to the screen with splendid unnerving rewards, the end result being a genuine thriller, the kind that seems all the more better for being filmed in classic era monochrome. With the tone set from the off, where we know there is a murderer at large, director Thorpe takes great care to ensure characterisations of the principles are firmly given room to breath. He has to do this since the film runs at just shy of two hours in length, but never once does the film or story sag. This is because of in the main the performance of Montgomery. With MGM suits worried about Montgomery being cast in the male lead, since he was after all at the time cast against frothy type, producer Hunt Stromberg got his way and was duly rewarded when the pic became a critical and popular audience hit. Montgomery (Oscar Nominated Best Actor) is terrific, his portrayal of Danny is a blend of childlike shenanigans and sinister undertones - crowned by a nerve tingling last thirty minutes of the piece. Montgomery is well backed by the Great Dame Whitty (Oscar Nominated Best Supporting Actress) and Russell, the former delightfully gruff but melts under Danny's charm, the latter deeply conflicted on an emotional level as things start to twist and turn in the plot. This is highly recommended to any classic film fan who has a bent for those Gaslight type thrillers where a woman may be under threat and the protagonist may just be too good to be true... 8/10
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
