Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 1929


New York Nights

Buy New York Nights now from Amazon

First, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.

Wikipedia article




'New York Nights' is a 1929 American pre-Code crime film, directed by Lewis Milestone, and based on the 1928 play 'Tin Pan Alley' by Hugh Stanislaus Stange.[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=84768&category=Screenplay%20Info Turner Classic Movies] Screenplay Info for New York Nights (1929) The film is known for being leading actress Norma Talmadge's first sound film.

Plot



Jill Deverne is a chorus girl married to alcoholic composer Fred. She wants to show Fred's latest song, "A Year From Today", to racketeer Joe Prividi. Prividi is the producer of the musical show in which she is working, and agrees to use his song. Fred, however, refuses any favors and rejects Prividi's offer. When Prividi uses the song anyway, Fred and his friend Johnny Dolan become drunk and show up at a nightclub.

In a raid, the police discover Fred with chorus girl Ruthie. Jill is disgusted with his behavior and dumps him. She is soon courted by Prividi, who is very overprotective. At a private party, a gambler forces himself on her and is shot by Prividi. Prividi is arrested and sent to jail. Jill does not want to be left behind, and plans a future with Fred. Prividi becomes jealous and sends gunmen to shoot and kill Fred. He is eventually stopped and put in jail, while Jill and Fred ride off in a train to start a new life.

Song



"A Year From Today", the song featured in the film, was composed by Al Jolson, Dave Dreyer, and Ballard McDonald. It was sung in four different styles in the film.

Cast



* Norma Talmadge as Jill Deverne

* Gilbert Roland as Fred Deverne

* John Wray as Joe Prividi

* Lilyan Tashman as Peggy

* Roscoe Karns as Johnny Dolan

Release



The film was highly publicized as Talmadge's first talkie. The film, however, received generally negative reviews. 'Variety' praised Talmadge's acting, but called the film a "stiff test" for her. 'Photoplay' wrote that her fans would not be disappointed with her voice, but stated the story was "full of hokum".[http://www.stanford.edu/~gdegroat/NT/oldreviews/nyn.htm The Norma Talmadge Website] Review from 'Variety' and 'Photoplay'

In popular culture



The original poster of the film can be seen in a Chuck E. Cheese location in Akron, Ohio.

References




Buy New York Nights now from Amazon

<-- Return to movies from 1929



This work is released under CC-BY-SA. Some or all of this content attributed to http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1105792960.