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Sleep, My Love

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Wikipedia article






'Sleep, My Love' is a 1948 American drama movie directed by Douglas Sirk and starring Claudette Colbert, Robert Cummings and Don Ameche.Sleep My Love

Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 15, Iss. 169, (Jan 1, 1948): 142.


Plot



Alison Courtland, a wealthy New Yorker, hasn't a clue how she ended up on a train bound for Boston. When she phones her husband, Richard, the police listen in and overhear that she had threatened him with a gun. On a flight home, fellow passenger, Bruce Elcott, falls in love with Alison. Elcott is a friend of a good friend of hers.

Back home, Richard makes Alison agree to start seeing a psychiatrist, Dr. Rhinehart. But, it turns out that the man who shows up at the house for their first appointment is not Rhinehart. He is actually Charles Vernay, a photographer hired by Richard, who is having an affair with another woman, Daphne, and hopes to get rid of Alison for good.

The scheme is to drive Alison to suicide and inherit her money. Elcott, who has come to suspect there is some kind of purposeful plan afoot to confuse and distress Alison, arrives just in time to find her, apparently under hypnosis, about to leap from a balcony to her death. Elcott discovers Vernay's role in the situation. Richard, meanwhile, attempts to drug Alison and make her kill the doctor herself.

Vernay realizes he has been betrayed and shoots Richard; Vernay is later killed falling through a skylight while being chased by Elcott. It appears Elcott and Alison live happily ever after.

Cast



* Claudette Colbert as Alison Courtland

* Robert Cummings as Bruce Elcott

* Don Ameche as Richard Courtland

* Rita Johnson as Barby

* George Coulouris as Charles Vernay

* Queenie Smith as Mrs. Grace Vernay

* Ralph Morgan as Dr. Rhinehart

* Keye Luke as Jimmie Lin

* Fred Nurney as Haskins

* Raymond Burr as Detective Sgt. Strake

* Hazel Brooks as Daphne

* Edgar Dearing as Hannigan (uncredited)

Production



The film was based on a story by Leo Rosten which had been serialised in magazines. In November 1946 the screen rights were bought by Triangle Productions, a company consisting of Mary Pickford, husband Buddy Rogers and Ralph Cohn.Jacqueline White Wins 'Baldpate' Femme Lead

Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 13 Nov 1946: A2.
Pickford's New Work Thrills Her: Producing Pictures Revives Glamour of Reign as Star

Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 20 July 1947: C1.
It was Pickford's first film in twelve years - the last was 'The Gay Desperado' - although Cohn and Rogers had produced films for Comet Productions. Pickford was involved in approving the cast and script.Your Life' -- Mary Pickford, Producer -- Addenda

By THOMAS F. BRADY. New York Times 15 June 1947: X5.


Rosten wrote the first script and in December Triangle were seeking Richard Ney to star.De Havilland Buys Story as Subject for Herself

Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 17 Dec 1946: A2.


In April 1947 Don Ameche signed to star and Douglas Sirk to direct.M'CAREY WILL DO NEW RKO COMEDY New York Times 15 Apr 1947: 29 Shortly afterwards Claudette Colbert and Bob Cummings were cast.GROSS BUYS RIGHTS TO FILM 'MRS. MIKE'

By THOMAS F. BRADY New York Times 29 Apr 1947: 32.


Filming started 27 May 1947 at the Hal Roach Studios.DRAMA AND FILM: Wyler Invades Foreign Mart for Film Stories

Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 15 May 1947: A3.


Release



'Sleep My Love' premiered on January 27, 1948. Olive Films released it on Blu-ray on April 15, 2014.

Reception



The world premier of the film was held in Ottawa to help children in Europe.PICKFORD FILM AIDS DRIVE: New York Times 13 Jan 1948: 28.

'Variety' wrote, "'Sleep, My Love manages' a fair share of suspense and adds up to okay melodrama. Plot gets off to a strong start and windup is high melodrama that brings off the finale on a fast note." 'The New York Times' described it as "a sleek entry which manages to run its course without coming a cropper". Glenn Kenny wrote on RogerEbert.com that despite miscasting issues, "Sirk applies so much visual brio to the proceedings, and supporting players George Coulouris and Hazel Brook are so compelling it's very easy to watch anyway." Jonathan Rosenbaum of the 'Chicago Reader' called it "a minor Douglas Sirk thriller, better in atmospherics than story logic". Chuck Bowen of 'Slant Magazine' rated it 2.5/5 stars and wrote, "'Sleep, My Love' is a self-conscious homage to a variety of its contemporary thriller brethren, most obviously 'Suspicion' and 'Gaslight', and it's often characterized by competent, derivative efficiency at the expense of true dread or spontaneity." Michael Barrett of PopMatters rated it 6/10 stars and criticized the plot device, gaslighting, as turning female protagonists into "the most frustratingly obtuse idiots in the world".

See also



* Gothic romance film

References




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