That Midnight Kiss

That Midnight Kiss


MGM, 1949, Color, 98 minutes, ***

Released September, 1949



In his first feature film, Mario Lanza plays opposite Kathryn Grayson (not a bad start, eh?) as a singing truck driver. Kathryn is the granddaughter of Abigail Budell (Ethel Barrymore), a wealthy patroness of the arts who decides to start a new opera company to showcase Mario and Kathryn. Of course, Kathryn and Mario fall in love, then feud. Lots of great opera music performed by Mario, Kathryn and Jose Iturbi.


Produced by: Joe Pasternak

Directed by: Norman Taurog

Screen Play by: Bruce Manning and Tamara Hovey

Musical Direction: Charles Previn

Orchestrations: Leo Arnaud and Conrad Salinger

Musical Supervision: Jose Iturbi

"They Didn't Believe Me" Music by Jerome Kern, Lyrics by Herbert Reynolds

"I Know, I Know, I Know" Music by Bronislau Kaper, Lyrics by Bob Russell

Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Preston Ames

Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis

Associate: Arthur Krams

Costumes by: Helen Rose

Men's Costumes by: Valles

Hair Styles Designed by: Sydney Guilaroff

Make-Up Created by: Jack Dawn

Recording Supervisor: Douglas Shearer

Director of Photography: Robert Surtees

Color by Technicolor

Technicolor Color Consultants: Henri Jaffa, James Gooch

Film Editor: Gene Ruggiero



Cast: Kathryn Grayson (Prudence Budell), Jose Iturbi (Himself), Ethel Barrymore (Abigail Trent Budell), Mario Lanza (Johnny Donetti), Keenan Wynn (Artie Geoffrey Glenson), J. Carrol Naish (Papa Donetti), Jules Munshin (Michael Pemberton), Thomas Gomez (Guido Russino Betelli), Marjorie Reynolds (Mary), Arthur Treacher (Hutchins), Mimi Aguglia (Mamma Donetti), Amparo Iturbi (Herself), Bridget Carr (Donna), Amparo Ballester (Rosina), Ann Codee (Mme. Bouget), Edward Earle (Jason), George Meader (Paul), Sheila Stein (Peanuts), Charles Smith (one of the boys in the garage)



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:02] unidentified instrumental number (played by Orchestra conducted by Jose Iturbi); [0:05] Caro nome che il mio cor (from RIGOLETTO, sung by Kathryn Grayson); [0:11] Veranno a Te sull'aure (from LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, excerpt sung by Kathryn Grayson rehearsing with Thomas Gomez); [0:15] Mamma mia che vò sapè (sung by Mario Lanza); [0:20] Santa Lucia (sung by J. Carrol Naish); [0:23] Down Among the Sheltering Palms (Keenan Wynn and the boys in the garage); [0:26] Una furtiva lagrima (from L'ELISIR D'AMORE, sung by Mario Lanza auditioning for Iturbi); [0:34] Piano Concerto No. 1 (music by Tchaikovsky, Jose Iturbi and Orchestra at concert); [0:37] Celeste Aida (from AÏDA, sung by Mario Lanza at concert); [0:42] They Didn't Believe Me (Mario Lanza and Kathryn Grayson); [0:48] Veranno a Te sull'aure (from LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, sung by Kathryn Grayson rehearsing with Thomas Gomez); [0:50] unidentified (Orchestra conducted by Jules Munshin); [1:01] unidentified aria (Kathryn Grayson and Mario Lanza rehearsing); [1:02] Nightingale (Kathryn Grayson); [1:05] Three O'Clock in the Morning (J. Carrol Naish); [1:08] I Know, I Know, I Know (Mario Lanza serenading Prudence); [1:15] Veranno a Te sull'aure (from LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, sung by Kathryn Grayson rehearsing with Thomas Gomez); [1:20] Revolutionary Étude (piano duet by Jose Iturbi and his sister Amparo Iturbi); [1:33] Sweet Are the Love Songs (lyrics to Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, Kathryn Grayson and Mario Lanza)