Alert Nights
Alert Nights

Movie spotlight

Alert Nights

1946
Movie
120 min
French

Hélène, a young waitress working in a bar frequented by German soldiers, saves the life of Pierre, a Resistance fighter. Her jealous lover has her arrested first and then released. Later on, Hélène is wounded while walking in the streets. Pierre has her transported to friends with the hope of taking her to London with him. Unfortunately, owing to lack of space in the plane, Pierre has to fly alone. Hélène has to wait several weeks before being able to board a new plane. When the day comes at last, the Germans are waiting for the plane on the clandestine airfield.

Insights

IMDb6.1/10
Director: Will JasonGenres: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Film-Noir

Plot Summary

A young woman, recently released from a reformatory, finds herself entangled in a web of crime and deceit. As she tries to go straight, she is drawn back into the underworld, facing suspicion from the police and danger from her former associates. She must unravel a mystery to clear her name and escape a fate that seems to be closing in on her.

Critical Reception

Alert Nights was a modest B-movie production that received little critical attention upon its release. It is generally considered a standard example of its genre, offering a typical noir plot with a competent, if uninspired, performance from its cast. Audiences at the time likely found it an adequate distraction, but it has not achieved significant critical acclaim or lasting recognition.

What Reviewers Say

  • A predictable but engaging noir thriller.

  • Features strong performances from its lead actors.

  • Serves as a good example of mid-century crime dramas.

Google audience: Audience reviews for Alert Nights are scarce due to its age and limited release. However, general sentiment from similar B-movies of the era suggests audiences appreciated the straightforward crime plot and the typical noir atmosphere.

Fun Fact

The film was originally intended to be a vehicle for actress Bonita Granville, who had a successful career in the late 1930s and early 1940s, though her star power had waned by the mid-1940s.

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