A Night in Montmartre

A Night in Montmartre
Opening titles
Directed byLeslie S. Hiscott
Written byWalter Peacock (play)
Miles Malleson (play)
Angus MacPhail
Produced byMichael Balcon
StarringHorace Hodges
Franklin Dyall
Hugh Williams
Heather Angel
CinematographySydney Blythe
Edited byJack Harris
Production
company
Distributed byGaumont British Distributors
Release date
  • 17 July 1931 (1931-07-17)
Running time
70 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

A Night in Montmartre (also known as Night in Montmartre and Night of Montmartre) is a 1931 British mystery film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Horace Hodges, Franklin Dyall, Hugh Williams, Reginald Purdell and Austin Trevor.[1] It was written by Angus MacPhail based on a play by Walter Peacock and Miles Malleson.

Plot

When the owner of a large cafe in Montmartre and a notorious blackmailer is murdered, suspicion points at young artist Lucien Borell who owed him money. Things look worse for Lucien when his father arrives and, fancying himself a criminologist, uncovers evidence that accidentally makes his son look even more guilty. On his second attempt, however, he is able to unmask the real culprits.

Cast

Production

The film was shot at Twickenham Studios in London[2] with sets designed by the art director James Carter.

Reception

Film Weekly wrote: "The acting of Horace Hodges and Heather Angel is pleasing; but the rest of the cast are too determinedly melodramatic. A mediocre film."[3]

Variety wrote: "Picture is developed on an even keel with little attempt to build up to a climax. Result, it never gets enough kick to lift it out of the support class, and although competent in an unobtrusive way, remains one of those negative sort of pictures."[4]

References

  1. ^ "A Night in Montmartre". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  2. ^ Wood, Linda (1986). British Films, 1927–1939 (PDF). British Film Institute. p. 72. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2022.
  3. ^ "A Night in Montmartre". Film Weekly. 7 (170): 24. 16 January 1932. ProQuest 1705129784.
  4. ^ "A Night in Montmartre". Variety. 103 (8): 21. 4 August 1931. ProQuest 1529400503.