If this were to have been done twenty years later with a modern sensibility, gullible stars, a more lethal editor, and a spot more atmosphere, it could well have ended up as a hit. The budget was obviously good, and the photography is mostly excellent despite its too-frequent descent into seventies syrup. The lighting (and look) tends to be pretty uniform - for example, Wartime Paris was apparently a beautifully colorful time, and the mood gay and sumptuous, but then so is everything else, right down to the fitted carpet. The debt owed to the black and white classics is apparent, but there is something very unconvincing about using the old styles of movie-making with full-on glossy, TV color. A shame they didn't go all the way, and let the hammers fly -for heavens' sake give me some deep shadow when the lights are on. All in all, the zoom lens is over-active, the script underwhelming, and the score dreary. The performances, however, are lively and committed and the styling and costumes sometimes inspired. "Entraptured" as I was, I couldn't help feeling I was watching a Judith Krantz novel....oh, that's right - it's Sidney Sheldon! Compelling nonetheless...
35 Reviews
I expected just another love story "chick" movie and was pleasantly surprised that it delivered the thrills.
Deusvolt18 August 2004
I saw this movie upon the persistent recommendations of my lady co-employees thinking and hoping that there may be sense after all in their insistence. But of course, knowing them I expected this to be another chick movie, a maudlin love story.
To my surprise, it had a lot of suspense and I also appreciated the fact that it captured the ambience of the European countries that served as locales.
It did well in the Philippines. I saw it with a standing room crowd and it took me a while to grab a seat. But I doubt if it was well received in the US.
To my surprise, it had a lot of suspense and I also appreciated the fact that it captured the ambience of the European countries that served as locales.
It did well in the Philippines. I saw it with a standing room crowd and it took me a while to grab a seat. But I doubt if it was well received in the US.
Not as trashy as you might have heard...
dave13-113 April 2012
... but not as good as it wants to be. This sprawling drama plays out over a span of decades as it follows a pretty young Parisienne who is seduced and abandoned by an American flier, and who then marries into society with the non-specific purpose of either getting him back or getting back at him. Meanwhile the flier gets married and goes through various crises of his own. The production values are expensive and look good, but the script moves with languorous slowness and, despite some fashionable 70s-style sexual frankness, everything has an old-style Hollywood feel to it, as if the movie had been made 20 years earlier than it was. John Beck and Susan Sarandon in particular seem to have been time warped back to a Ross Hunter melodrama such as Back Street, making their performances seem out of date for the more naturalistic 1970s cinema. Marie- France Pisier emerges as the best thing in the movie, but it's a pretty dull affair otherwise, especially when she is not on screen. Sarandon's career survived this bomb, thanks to Atlantic City a few years later, but John Beck, who was supposed to vault to stardom after this, quickly found himself in the hell of TV guest star shots.
The Upper Side of Marie-France
Poseidon-38 June 2006
Warning: Spoilers
In what's basically a lost genre by now (sexy, poolside page-turner spun into glitzy, big-screen epic), Pisier goes from an innocent, young French girl to a fabulously wealthy film actress in the course of about 8 years. Wasting no time in establishing the tawdry tone of the film, she is basically sold by her parents, as a youth, to a local couturier (a straight couturier?!) who is played by a hairy and repugnant Booke (soon to be famous as Boss Hogg on "The Dukes of Hazard"!) Her father passes on the sage advise, "Let the hand under your dress be one of gold" (one of many howlers in the movie's dialogue) as her stone-faced mother (Chauvin) looks on. Unhappy with this arrangement, she flees to France where she meets up with Beck, a Canadian airman who takes her in and falls in love with her. When he's shipped off, she waits for him to come back and marry her (made ever more urgent by the fact that she's knocked up), but things get off course. Meanwhile, Sarandon is a slightly daffy, but resourceful public relations worker who's saving herself for Mister Right. When contrivances place Sarandon and Beck in the same vicinity, they fall for each other and are married, much to Pisier's dismay. From this point, Pisier is driven to bringing Beck back to her no matter what it takes and making him hers no matter what it takes, even if it's murder. Pisier (who in some shots resembles a young Joan Collins) injects a fair amount of emotion into her meaty role, but still comes off just a touch lacking. A bigger name actress may have given the role a few more layers, though few actresses would have been as willing as Pisier to continually doff her clothes and show off her pert bust (and more.) The very petite actress wears some downright massive heels throughout the film in order to meet Beck halfway and to show off some truly eye-popping Sharaff costumes. Beck (whose chin seems more prominent in his early scenes than at any other time in his career) fails to give his role the necessary magnetism or charisma that would inspire a woman to move heaven and earth to possess him. He's serviceable at best. Sarandon gets to have the most fun, displaying everything from wacky humor to imperiousness to romance to the degradation of alcohol to even the thrill of wearing a flimsy nightgown during a thunderstorm. Other key cast members include Vallone as a barely disguised Ari Onassis clone and Gulager as Sarandon's principled boss. For some reason, Marquand is denied the same star billing as the other folks and gets lumped in with the secondary players. Perhaps it is due to his humiliating love scenes with Pisier in which she tantalizes him with her long hair and two handfuls of ice! At least he seems to have retained a sense of humor about it. Look fast for Hesseman, of all people, as a film director. The film has the unfortunate task of trying to cram nearly a decade's worth of story into feature length. Even with its bloated running time, it's still necessary to skip over a lot. The director never met a music montage he didn't love and there are many in the film. Fortunately, skilled composer Legrand is on hand to ladle some sense of romance onto the film. One great asset is the production design, which features some really striking sets (primarily belonging to Vallone's character.) There are also a few memorable sequences such as a harrowing (and harrowingly tacky) bathtub abortion and a mean-spirited trip into a deserted section of a cavern. In the end, the film cannot escape its many clichés and contrivances and its ultimate silliness, but there are a few laughs and bits of interest to be had along the way. This type of flick (see also "The Betsy" and "Jacqueline Susann's Once is Not Enough") would soon be virtually abandoned as the type of material was more often used in TV mini-series like "Scruples" (also featuring Pisier), "Princess Daisy", "Hollywood Wives" and the lame sequel to this very film "Memories of Midnight", which had Jane Seymour (!) taking over Sarandon's role.
The Other Side of Midnight- Hold Back the Dawn ***
edwagreen12 June 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Amazing that Noelle Page (Marie France Pissier) had it all, and managed to lose everything-including her life in this interesting 1977 film.
John Beck is no leading actor and he proved that in this film. Not one to have good looks, Beck is miscast as the pilot who believes in impregnating women and then dumping them.
Raf Vallone plays an Aristotle Onassis like-character with vengeance in his heart.
The real solid performance here is by Susan Sarandon, who starts off as a meek secretary, who falls under the spell of Beck and even marries him.
This is definitely a story of lust, greed, hate and vengeance, nicely done. Beginning in 1939, surprisingly it really doesn't deal with the war, but with people caught up in lust and ultimate misery.
The ironic ending must serve as a reminder to all that the wealthy have unbelievable power in society.
John Beck is no leading actor and he proved that in this film. Not one to have good looks, Beck is miscast as the pilot who believes in impregnating women and then dumping them.
Raf Vallone plays an Aristotle Onassis like-character with vengeance in his heart.
The real solid performance here is by Susan Sarandon, who starts off as a meek secretary, who falls under the spell of Beck and even marries him.
This is definitely a story of lust, greed, hate and vengeance, nicely done. Beginning in 1939, surprisingly it really doesn't deal with the war, but with people caught up in lust and ultimate misery.
The ironic ending must serve as a reminder to all that the wealthy have unbelievable power in society.
not as good as FROM NOON 'TILL THREE
ptb-813 March 2007
What a success this film was in Australia in 1977.... it ran for months gathering momentum among shop assistants and daytime single women ticket-buyers as a much whispered about 'must see'. well for us fellers, it was a bit raunchy showing off Gallic nubile sexiness among the ruins of Paris in WW2. I guess it also caused the rise of the miniseries movie potboiler drama that paved the way for THE BETSY, THE Greek TYCOON and many other 2hr plus glossy romantic efforts.... most long forgotten. TV really corralled this type of book/drama on film with DYNASTY and KNOTTS LANDING etc. I am surprised that is was considered a flop in the USA when a big hit elsewhere. My main memory is from a suburban cinema in Sydney....400 person sized crowd of couples.... then shocked silence during a bathtub abortion scene... followed immediately by (only) one huge athletic man staggering from his seat in a state of distress, dizzy from what he had seen, lumbering Frankenstein monster-style across the aisle, and ploughed headfirst through the plaster wall on the stairway to the foyer. The building shook and we ran to see what happened. There he was, head first through the wall, slumped in collapse, with frantic audience members trying to pull him, legs first, from the hole. He woke up and started crying: "Awww I didn't like that" he sobbed. We had to stop the projector, tell everyone that he was alright and re wound the film. "Aww don't show that bit again" he protested, so we didn't, we re started from just after. With a mug of tea and his tears wiped up, we re sat him with his cringing date and the movie rolled on....and on and on. Just so you know...FROM NOON TILL THREE is a funny (!) Charles Bronson western with Jill Ireland.. equally as enjoyable 70s. No bathtub abortions but a good train smash.
Expensive, but not without interest!
JohnHowardReid20 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I've not read Sheldon's book but I've no doubt the movie is a fairly faithful transcription. It has all the elements that appeal to the ladies. For a start, it's concerned with the loves and passions of the rich, and it moves – in scenes of incredible luxury – against a background of war, fashion, politics, and even Hollywood. It also has a soap opera plot that relies on twists rather than believability, plus soap opera characters who can turn on emotional fire-works with as little depth as a pizza, and who revel in dialogue that they can chew around and waste a grand amount of time enunciating.
And yet, despite everything, this soap opera is so skillfully tailored and fashioned, it's hard to resist its overblown appeal. No doubt the producer had hysterics when he saw the editor's final cut in which he threw away scene after expensive scene of incredible period detail in order to concentrate on TV-style close-ups of the cardboard characters.
The producer also went to the trouble to utilize real locations in Greece at enormous cost, but what the editor left on the screen was so minuscule, it wasn't worth even one per cent of the expense. In fact, they would actually have done much better to forget about Greece and simply played against a process screen in Hollywood.
And yet, despite everything, this soap opera is so skillfully tailored and fashioned, it's hard to resist its overblown appeal. No doubt the producer had hysterics when he saw the editor's final cut in which he threw away scene after expensive scene of incredible period detail in order to concentrate on TV-style close-ups of the cardboard characters.
The producer also went to the trouble to utilize real locations in Greece at enormous cost, but what the editor left on the screen was so minuscule, it wasn't worth even one per cent of the expense. In fact, they would actually have done much better to forget about Greece and simply played against a process screen in Hollywood.
Time capsule material
Boyo-225 August 2004
During the summer of '77, I didn't get to see as many movies as I had been used to seeing the past three years. The only other movie I saw that summer was "Star Wars."
So here I am, 17 years old, and I go to this with my Grandmother and an aunt, cause, lets face it, this is what is a classic 'chick flick'. I dislike that expression cause it makes it seem like you have to be a woman to gain any enjoyment, and the only movie I'd personally attach that label to is "Thelma and Louise." Just cause the main character of a movie is a woman does not mean its not about a human being who is completely unbelievable.
Anywho, I saw this again last week, and it may as well be 900 years old. They don't make trash like this anymore, but maybe that's because they don't write trash novels anymore. Gone are Harold Robbins, Jackie Susann and the author of this, Sidney Sheldon. We have Jackie Collins, but her stuff ends up on television (I think). Why has the world given up on the trash novel, the one you read on the beach or on a plane?
This has it all, like the master checklist..epic length, betrayal, a lot of over- and under-acting, revenge, nudity, sex, self-abortion, international settings, a trial, an actress, a firing squad, a bitch, a virgin, a colorless leading man and even a surprise ending. 8/10.
So here I am, 17 years old, and I go to this with my Grandmother and an aunt, cause, lets face it, this is what is a classic 'chick flick'. I dislike that expression cause it makes it seem like you have to be a woman to gain any enjoyment, and the only movie I'd personally attach that label to is "Thelma and Louise." Just cause the main character of a movie is a woman does not mean its not about a human being who is completely unbelievable.
Anywho, I saw this again last week, and it may as well be 900 years old. They don't make trash like this anymore, but maybe that's because they don't write trash novels anymore. Gone are Harold Robbins, Jackie Susann and the author of this, Sidney Sheldon. We have Jackie Collins, but her stuff ends up on television (I think). Why has the world given up on the trash novel, the one you read on the beach or on a plane?
This has it all, like the master checklist..epic length, betrayal, a lot of over- and under-acting, revenge, nudity, sex, self-abortion, international settings, a trial, an actress, a firing squad, a bitch, a virgin, a colorless leading man and even a surprise ending. 8/10.
Your disbelief needs to be suspended.
dbdumonteil8 August 2010
Warning: Spoilers
SPOILERS;SPOILERS
"The other side of midnight" is the melodrama of Sirk and Stahl in the seventies ;the only thing that is new is nudity .In "leave her to Heaven " there was self-induced abortion, and suicide disguised as homicide;in "midnight" ,Marie -France Pisier is more practical -minded :she uses a coat hanger;and Raf Vallone does not even need a dead body to make sure his lover will be sentenced to death.
Marie-France Pisier,who is considered in her native France an intellectual actress ,and thus is cast against type ,was never as attractive as in "midnight" .At the beginning of WW2,a fighter pilot (John Beck)got her pregnant and left her .As many heroines of melodrama ,she becomes wealthy and famous and revenge is a dish best eaten cold.
The movie includes all the available clichés and for kitsch lovers it is a true delight:Paris Romantique with the usual Quais De La Seine and the Eiffel Tower and the Trocadero ,Greece and the tycoons (Raf Vallone 's character was probably inspired by Aristote Onassis :don't we learn he left a diva for Noelle?),Cathy (Susan Sarandon)drinking like a fish -her "death" in a pasteboard and plastic sea is a great moment as is the scene of the caves,the landing in Zurich ,and to top it all ,the sinner in her wedding gown facing the fire squad .It has to be seen to be believed !
And do not tell that Charles Jarrot is not a true art house movies maker. In his 1971 movie,he told the story of two women who did not live in the same country whose destinies met ,Mary Stuart and Elizabeth the First. Here ,a French girl and another one,who lives on "the other side of midnight" ...like Mary and Elizabeth ,they never really met ,but their lives were closely linked .
"The other side of midnight" is the melodrama of Sirk and Stahl in the seventies ;the only thing that is new is nudity .In "leave her to Heaven " there was self-induced abortion, and suicide disguised as homicide;in "midnight" ,Marie -France Pisier is more practical -minded :she uses a coat hanger;and Raf Vallone does not even need a dead body to make sure his lover will be sentenced to death.
Marie-France Pisier,who is considered in her native France an intellectual actress ,and thus is cast against type ,was never as attractive as in "midnight" .At the beginning of WW2,a fighter pilot (John Beck)got her pregnant and left her .As many heroines of melodrama ,she becomes wealthy and famous and revenge is a dish best eaten cold.
The movie includes all the available clichés and for kitsch lovers it is a true delight:Paris Romantique with the usual Quais De La Seine and the Eiffel Tower and the Trocadero ,Greece and the tycoons (Raf Vallone 's character was probably inspired by Aristote Onassis :don't we learn he left a diva for Noelle?),Cathy (Susan Sarandon)drinking like a fish -her "death" in a pasteboard and plastic sea is a great moment as is the scene of the caves,the landing in Zurich ,and to top it all ,the sinner in her wedding gown facing the fire squad .It has to be seen to be believed !
And do not tell that Charles Jarrot is not a true art house movies maker. In his 1971 movie,he told the story of two women who did not live in the same country whose destinies met ,Mary Stuart and Elizabeth the First. Here ,a French girl and another one,who lives on "the other side of midnight" ...like Mary and Elizabeth ,they never really met ,but their lives were closely linked .
Worth watching once
kf4wvk11 June 2006
Warning: Spoilers
The scenery in Marseilles, Paris, Washington and Greece was nice, but the movie had some problems.
First of all, the movie was just too long. There are long montages of love scenes that just keep going and going. Yes, we get the idea. They are falling in love.
Second, having all the dialog in English is just not real enough. Maybe that style was fine, for 1977, but it would have been more enjoyable if two people from France would speak French to each other. Maybe subtitles were not in vogue in the late-70's... although George Lucas used them in Star Wars for various aliens.
Third, the ending was more of an international film ending that a Hollywood ending and, since this was distributed by Twentieth Century Fox, I expected a Hollywood ending, but was denied. And why does Constantin care about Catherine anyway? I was scratching my head on that one.
Fourth, Larry is schizophrenic. I like him, I hate him, he's romantic, he's a cad, he settles down, he fools around. I got whiplash trying to keep up.
While Marie-France and Susan were technically great, the best actor in the film was Clu Gulager, playing his minor character role with perfect subtlety. It's too bad he wasn't part of the courtroom scene towards the end of the film. I almost laughed when I saw Sorrell Booke (Boss Hogg) with a French accent.
The plot of the story was compelling though. Two stories, seemingly separate, yet you start to piece together how these stories will come together. This was very enjoyable.
But can anyone tell me what title has to do with the film? This is a pet peeve of mine. Marketing titles that mean nothing in the story.
This movie split it right down the middle for me, 5/10. Worth watching once, but probably never again.
First of all, the movie was just too long. There are long montages of love scenes that just keep going and going. Yes, we get the idea. They are falling in love.
Second, having all the dialog in English is just not real enough. Maybe that style was fine, for 1977, but it would have been more enjoyable if two people from France would speak French to each other. Maybe subtitles were not in vogue in the late-70's... although George Lucas used them in Star Wars for various aliens.
Third, the ending was more of an international film ending that a Hollywood ending and, since this was distributed by Twentieth Century Fox, I expected a Hollywood ending, but was denied. And why does Constantin care about Catherine anyway? I was scratching my head on that one.
Fourth, Larry is schizophrenic. I like him, I hate him, he's romantic, he's a cad, he settles down, he fools around. I got whiplash trying to keep up.
While Marie-France and Susan were technically great, the best actor in the film was Clu Gulager, playing his minor character role with perfect subtlety. It's too bad he wasn't part of the courtroom scene towards the end of the film. I almost laughed when I saw Sorrell Booke (Boss Hogg) with a French accent.
The plot of the story was compelling though. Two stories, seemingly separate, yet you start to piece together how these stories will come together. This was very enjoyable.
But can anyone tell me what title has to do with the film? This is a pet peeve of mine. Marketing titles that mean nothing in the story.
This movie split it right down the middle for me, 5/10. Worth watching once, but probably never again.
A romance of passion and power
Nazi_Fighter_David21 May 2007
It's the time to breathe
to fall in love
to feel the heartbeat of every living moment of every endless day
It's a very romantic time
It's a time for dreams and heartbreak and hope
A time when fantasies can come true
In Paris, the enchanting Noelleyoung and vulnerablelives out her fantasies at the jagged edges of her broken dreams dazzled by its glamor In Washington, the beautiful Cathytaken by surprise with her own successis unaware of its price Larryloved by both women is a sly liar Constantine Demeris has the power that extends beyond wealth, the power that knows the price of every woman's heart and every man's soul
Sidney Sheldon's story has all the suspense, the intrigue, and the emotions that explode when fantasy collides with destiny His four unforgettable people live the romance, the passion, the betrayal, the hate and revenge against the midst of WWII, in Three countries: France, United States and Greece
In Paris, the enchanting Noelleyoung and vulnerablelives out her fantasies at the jagged edges of her broken dreams dazzled by its glamor In Washington, the beautiful Cathytaken by surprise with her own successis unaware of its price Larryloved by both women is a sly liar Constantine Demeris has the power that extends beyond wealth, the power that knows the price of every woman's heart and every man's soul
Sidney Sheldon's story has all the suspense, the intrigue, and the emotions that explode when fantasy collides with destiny His four unforgettable people live the romance, the passion, the betrayal, the hate and revenge against the midst of WWII, in Three countries: France, United States and Greece
The Other Side of Midnight can now be remade as a mini-series
Paris5526 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I agree with most of the reviews written. My comment is that since they are remaking every movie these days that are not even 15 years old, why not try this one. The Other Side of Midnight would make a perfect mini-series on HBO, Showtime, etc. The time is right. The story can be told in full detail. Many scenes can be shot with no editing. With a good cast and good director, this book can be made into a good soap. Regardless of what some people are saying now, soaps are needed now more than ever. I would rather engross myself in a good soap opera rather than the reality show nonsense they are cramming down our throats.
The Wrong Side of Midnight
zardoz-1329 June 2009
Warning: Spoilers
"Anne of a Thousand Days" director Charles Jarrott's "The Other Side of Midnight" struggles hopelessly to amount to a sophisticated romantic revenge melodrama. Sadly, scenarists Herman Raucher and Daniel Taradash's adaptation of author Sidney Sheldon's bestseller ends up as a sophomoric comic book soap opera. Initially, this is surprising when you consider that Jarrott also helmed "Mary, Queen of Scots" and the splendid Jack Palance made-for-television chiller "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" from 1968. We'll try to forget his movie misfire, the musical version of "Lost Horizon." Not only was Herman Raucher, who wrote the bestseller "Summer of '42," no lightweight penman, but also neither was Oscar winning scribe Daniel Taradash who penned "From Here to Eternity" as well as "Golden Boy," "Picnic," and "Hawaii." Meanwhile, what is not so surprising is the basis for the film, Sidney Sheldon's bestseller. The leads are nothing spectacular. Vietnamese born French woman Marie-France Pisier went nowhere in America and her leading man John Beck didn't make much of an impression and wound up playing supporting roles. Only Susan Sarandon had a Hollywood career to speak of.
Essentially, "The Other Side of Midnight" occurs before, during, and after World War II, but it is not a war picture. The Raucher & Taradash screenplay deals with a love quadrangle. French ingénue Noelle Page (Marie-France Pisier of "French Postcards") is sold into the fashion business by her father. Jacques Page (Roger Etienne of "Marathon Man") advises his daughter, "You have beauty. It's your only weapon of survival. Let the hand under your dress wear gold." She is shocked by this advice and at firsts tries to be a good girl. Not long afterward, however, Noelle surrenders her virtue to a greedy little dressmaker Lanchon (Sorrell Brooke of "The Dukes of Hazzard") and he wants her to fulfill his every desire. Instead, Noelle flees to Paris and runs into a dashing, no-good jock of a Royal Air Force pilot, Larry Douglas (John Beck of "Rollerball"), who wines and dines her. No sooner does Larry promise to marry Noelle than he abandons her with a baby and a bleak future. Wielding a coat hanger, Noelle aborts her baby in a bathtub and decides to use her body to become a high-priced fashion model and European film starlet.
Meanwhile, Catherine Alexander (Susan Sarandon of "Joe") is a fortune-seeking American girl who seeks her fortune in Washington, D.C. As a magazine advertiser, Catherine can only handle the really tough assignments and fouls up the easy ones. Dispatched to Hollywood to produce a war documentary, she falls in love inadvertently with that no-good Larry who takes her to the altar. After the war, Larry suffers problems readjusting to normal life, a problem which is financed by Noelle who is determined to ruin his life and force him to return to her and marry him! While engineering Larry's downfall, Noelle becomes the mistress of a vindictive Greek millionaire Constantin Demeris (Raf Vallone of "Nevada Smith"), the richest man in the world. Larry winds up as the pilot for Noelle's plane which the Greek buys for her and she begins an affair with Larry behind the Greek's back. Ironically, Noelle cannot marry Larry who she really and truly loves because he cannot divorce Catherine who worships Larry like a god. Imagine what happens next? This kind of absurdity is dragged out for well over two and a half hours and "The Other Side of Midnight" feels like it takes that long for the events to resolve themselves. Director Charles Jarrott tries to relieve this tedium by flaunting classy production values. Furthermore, Oscar winning "Towering Inferno" cinematographer Fred J. Koenekamp provides some stunning picture postcard photography of Greece. He makes it seem like you are watching an extended tourist travelogue. When you're not a tourist, you're a voyeur. Koenekamp's cameras turn the bedroom and the nudity of its stars into a geographical "Playboy" shoot. Expect a lot of profanity and sex from this epic along with some occasional suspense. The way the script spells everything out ensures that nothing will be left to your imagination. "The Other Side of Midnight" qualifies as little more than glossy trash. Further, the way thing develop makes this film seem unintentionally silly and stupid. For example, why does Noelle go to such lengths to wreck what starts out to be revenge? Despite the film's numerous faults, there are some women who dream of being a princess and men who crave all the wealth and power that the world can offer. These people may find something redeeming about this sappy soap opera. All that can be said about "The Other Side of Midnight" is that the filmmakers or novelist Sidney Sheldon refrain for anteing up another side of "Midnight!"
Essentially, "The Other Side of Midnight" occurs before, during, and after World War II, but it is not a war picture. The Raucher & Taradash screenplay deals with a love quadrangle. French ingénue Noelle Page (Marie-France Pisier of "French Postcards") is sold into the fashion business by her father. Jacques Page (Roger Etienne of "Marathon Man") advises his daughter, "You have beauty. It's your only weapon of survival. Let the hand under your dress wear gold." She is shocked by this advice and at firsts tries to be a good girl. Not long afterward, however, Noelle surrenders her virtue to a greedy little dressmaker Lanchon (Sorrell Brooke of "The Dukes of Hazzard") and he wants her to fulfill his every desire. Instead, Noelle flees to Paris and runs into a dashing, no-good jock of a Royal Air Force pilot, Larry Douglas (John Beck of "Rollerball"), who wines and dines her. No sooner does Larry promise to marry Noelle than he abandons her with a baby and a bleak future. Wielding a coat hanger, Noelle aborts her baby in a bathtub and decides to use her body to become a high-priced fashion model and European film starlet.
Meanwhile, Catherine Alexander (Susan Sarandon of "Joe") is a fortune-seeking American girl who seeks her fortune in Washington, D.C. As a magazine advertiser, Catherine can only handle the really tough assignments and fouls up the easy ones. Dispatched to Hollywood to produce a war documentary, she falls in love inadvertently with that no-good Larry who takes her to the altar. After the war, Larry suffers problems readjusting to normal life, a problem which is financed by Noelle who is determined to ruin his life and force him to return to her and marry him! While engineering Larry's downfall, Noelle becomes the mistress of a vindictive Greek millionaire Constantin Demeris (Raf Vallone of "Nevada Smith"), the richest man in the world. Larry winds up as the pilot for Noelle's plane which the Greek buys for her and she begins an affair with Larry behind the Greek's back. Ironically, Noelle cannot marry Larry who she really and truly loves because he cannot divorce Catherine who worships Larry like a god. Imagine what happens next? This kind of absurdity is dragged out for well over two and a half hours and "The Other Side of Midnight" feels like it takes that long for the events to resolve themselves. Director Charles Jarrott tries to relieve this tedium by flaunting classy production values. Furthermore, Oscar winning "Towering Inferno" cinematographer Fred J. Koenekamp provides some stunning picture postcard photography of Greece. He makes it seem like you are watching an extended tourist travelogue. When you're not a tourist, you're a voyeur. Koenekamp's cameras turn the bedroom and the nudity of its stars into a geographical "Playboy" shoot. Expect a lot of profanity and sex from this epic along with some occasional suspense. The way the script spells everything out ensures that nothing will be left to your imagination. "The Other Side of Midnight" qualifies as little more than glossy trash. Further, the way thing develop makes this film seem unintentionally silly and stupid. For example, why does Noelle go to such lengths to wreck what starts out to be revenge? Despite the film's numerous faults, there are some women who dream of being a princess and men who crave all the wealth and power that the world can offer. These people may find something redeeming about this sappy soap opera. All that can be said about "The Other Side of Midnight" is that the filmmakers or novelist Sidney Sheldon refrain for anteing up another side of "Midnight!"
One of my early favorites
Eric-12267 July 2002
Like the previous commenter Jenny, I saw this movie when it first came out, and I too could not stop thinking about it! I saw it in this really nice theater in downtown Seattle (can't remember the name.. I think it has since been closed down and turned into something more steel and glass-like. Oh well, the memories linger...)
I have not seen this movie since I saw it in 1977, but I remember I saw it mere months before heading off to serve in the US military, and the images from this film somehow remained in my young mind throughout the time I was in the service, and beyond.
I still vividly remember the "prostitution" scene, and I still remember the flying scenes - as a fan of all things aviation-related, the movie is worth seeing just for the flight scenes alone.
I can remember going out on a few dates with girls back then, and talking glowingly about this fabulous movie. They thought I was a passionate, dreamy-eyed romantic or something. Must've had them fooled, I guess.
But if you want to see a good movie that's a bit of a potboiler paperback novel come to life, then this one's for you. I myself will be looking for a copy of this film in my local video store shortly.
I have not seen this movie since I saw it in 1977, but I remember I saw it mere months before heading off to serve in the US military, and the images from this film somehow remained in my young mind throughout the time I was in the service, and beyond.
I still vividly remember the "prostitution" scene, and I still remember the flying scenes - as a fan of all things aviation-related, the movie is worth seeing just for the flight scenes alone.
I can remember going out on a few dates with girls back then, and talking glowingly about this fabulous movie. They thought I was a passionate, dreamy-eyed romantic or something. Must've had them fooled, I guess.
But if you want to see a good movie that's a bit of a potboiler paperback novel come to life, then this one's for you. I myself will be looking for a copy of this film in my local video store shortly.
Cover your eyes and listen to the wonderful music...
willst016 February 2024
Composer Michel Legrand wrote over 200 film scores and this is one of his very best...such a pity it was wasted on a rather tawdry story. Never seemingly issued on CD either and the movie itself has never, as far as I'm aware, been shown on TV in the UK. Marie-France Pisier was an actress (sic) whom I had not previously encountered and I would like to see more of her...work. The melodramatic nature of this movie reminds me of Portrait In Black (1956?) starring Anthony Quinn and Lana Turner, both giving over the top performances, which I saw as a kid...the fact that I still remember it shows what an impression it made on me. Never shown on UK TV either.
Trashy. Equivalent to a summer paperback read..
GMJames5 April 2007
Producer Frank Yablans and 20th Century Fox spent some serious cash on "The Other Side of Midnight" filming scenes on location in Paris, Washington, DC and Greece. It certainly looks good on screen. The lush musical score by Michel Legrand made the movie sound more important than it really is. (When is a Legrand musical score not lush?) But the plodding epic WWII romantic story about two women who are in love with the same pilot, adapted from the best selling Sidney Sheldon novel, should not be taken too seriously. The movie is so soapy, I'm surprised Procter & Gamble did not co-produce the movie.
Marie-France Pisier tries her best to flesh out (pun intended) her character of Noelle, using her body to get to the top. But the scenes with Sorrell Booke as a businessman who bought Noelle from her father, Christian Marquand as a filmmaker and Raf Vallone as a Greek tycoon, were rather embarrassing and I did not feel any sympathy toward her character. John Beck fared even worse as a very uncharismatic, two-timing cad.
It is interesting that after "Midnight", Pisier (who I remember from a much better movie from two years earlier, Cousin, Cousine) went back to appearing in movies in her native France and Beck continued to appear in soaps, this time on television.
Somehow, I thought Susan Sarandon fared best because she was the best actor of the three leads. I felt more sympathy for her character Catherine than Noelle. And what has happened to Sarandon after this trash-fest? Can someone say a thinking man's sex symbol? (Oscar-winning performance as Sr. Helen Prejean in "Dead Man Walking" notwithstanding.)
Why a 5 out of 10 instead of a 1 or 2? I remember reading many negative reviews when it was first released in 1977. However, unlike what was reported in the IMDb Trivia section, the movie did have a long run in theaters and was a moderate success at the box office. Even though I was very leery of the film's 2 hour, 45 minute length, I caught the movie on cable TV. This movie is like a trashy summer novel, I could not put this movie down. Without giving the ending away, the plot twists almost made the film worth my time. Having seen the movie several times in the past few years, The Other Side of Midnight is a bad movie but I plead guilty to admit that it is so bad, it's good.
Update (5/10/2007): I tried to re-watch this movie and ended up fast forwarding through the boring parts. I guess my original review was rather generous.
If you cut down the "getting to know you" musical montage scenes, the transition scenes where people are walking from one beautiful scene to another and delete the gratuitous nude scenes, it might have been better. The movie is also filled with script exposition and not enough actual scenes that might have made the movie more interesting. The scenes between Pisier and Michael Lerner, who plays an investigator trailing John Beck's character, are especially deadly.
Sarandon's performance still holds up. She exudes more depth to her character than the script allows.
I sense that the movie was made by some dirty old men whose idea for a "chick flick" was to see the main female characters naked. A naked male lead? Not a chance.
Marie-France Pisier tries her best to flesh out (pun intended) her character of Noelle, using her body to get to the top. But the scenes with Sorrell Booke as a businessman who bought Noelle from her father, Christian Marquand as a filmmaker and Raf Vallone as a Greek tycoon, were rather embarrassing and I did not feel any sympathy toward her character. John Beck fared even worse as a very uncharismatic, two-timing cad.
It is interesting that after "Midnight", Pisier (who I remember from a much better movie from two years earlier, Cousin, Cousine) went back to appearing in movies in her native France and Beck continued to appear in soaps, this time on television.
Somehow, I thought Susan Sarandon fared best because she was the best actor of the three leads. I felt more sympathy for her character Catherine than Noelle. And what has happened to Sarandon after this trash-fest? Can someone say a thinking man's sex symbol? (Oscar-winning performance as Sr. Helen Prejean in "Dead Man Walking" notwithstanding.)
Why a 5 out of 10 instead of a 1 or 2? I remember reading many negative reviews when it was first released in 1977. However, unlike what was reported in the IMDb Trivia section, the movie did have a long run in theaters and was a moderate success at the box office. Even though I was very leery of the film's 2 hour, 45 minute length, I caught the movie on cable TV. This movie is like a trashy summer novel, I could not put this movie down. Without giving the ending away, the plot twists almost made the film worth my time. Having seen the movie several times in the past few years, The Other Side of Midnight is a bad movie but I plead guilty to admit that it is so bad, it's good.
Update (5/10/2007): I tried to re-watch this movie and ended up fast forwarding through the boring parts. I guess my original review was rather generous.
If you cut down the "getting to know you" musical montage scenes, the transition scenes where people are walking from one beautiful scene to another and delete the gratuitous nude scenes, it might have been better. The movie is also filled with script exposition and not enough actual scenes that might have made the movie more interesting. The scenes between Pisier and Michael Lerner, who plays an investigator trailing John Beck's character, are especially deadly.
Sarandon's performance still holds up. She exudes more depth to her character than the script allows.
I sense that the movie was made by some dirty old men whose idea for a "chick flick" was to see the main female characters naked. A naked male lead? Not a chance.
Revenge served cold
HotToastyRag6 April 2024
Young, innocent, and gullible, Marie-France Pisier falls for a hotshot flyboy, John Beck, at the start of WWII. He takes advantage of her love and promises to marry her when the war is over, but of course he never contacts her again. Marie-France vows to get revenge and make him regret he ever done-her-wrong - but she certainly takes her time! As the saying goes, "Revenge is a dish best served cold."
At the time, The Other Side of Midnight was a pretty naughty movie. Marie-France uses sex to get ahead, so I'd put the kids to bed before watching the famous "ice cubes" scene. Also, there's an upsetting abortion Marie-France has to endure - but back in the 1940s, there was no birth control pill. What did she think would happen? This is definitely a soapy, heavy drama, so if you like those kinds of movies, invite a bunch of your girlfriends over and pop some champagne. Be sure and keep it "on ice"!
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to sexual and adult content, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.
At the time, The Other Side of Midnight was a pretty naughty movie. Marie-France uses sex to get ahead, so I'd put the kids to bed before watching the famous "ice cubes" scene. Also, there's an upsetting abortion Marie-France has to endure - but back in the 1940s, there was no birth control pill. What did she think would happen? This is definitely a soapy, heavy drama, so if you like those kinds of movies, invite a bunch of your girlfriends over and pop some champagne. Be sure and keep it "on ice"!
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to sexual and adult content, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.
Say "Cheese"!
vivalarsx1 January 2003
If you are looking for a good, fun melodrama, certain titles come to mind (Peyton Place, Dark Victory); but if you want to laugh in a very superior way at the blunders of others, this is certainly as good a place to start as any. The Other Side of Midnight has it all: horrible dialogue (bonus points for breathless delivery!); flat, miniseries-inspired direction; ugly cinematography; a hideous music score; and valiant bad acting. This is a juicy slab o' cheese, slightly aged for maximum odor. The one-two-three outrageousness of the plotting kept cracking me up (motives are ridiculously basic, and methods of achieving goal are hilariously protracted), and "surprise" ending--please, you can see it coming from veritable MILES away--just leaves you gasping with laughter. I rated this a "1" as a regular movie, but on the camp scale, it comes pretty close to "10"--rent it by all means!
My Favorite All Time Film From the 1970's!
ii-228 June 2006
John Beck is so sexy in this film. Susan and Marie were adorable. Love the Sidney Sheldon twists and turns (Master of the Game is a favorite of mine too). Hauntingly beautiful soundtrack-the best ever! The soundtrack definitely adds so much to the passion of this film. And what a change for Susan after the Rocky Horror Picture show. I have seen The Other Side of Midnight 14 times and it gets better every time.I thinkthis is a masterpiece (and yes there are some very trite lines)however, its a beautiful love story and reminiscent of the 1970's and the way we all were back then. I don't feel that all films have to be so intellectually stimulating that the critics will like them. This was so much better than Star Wars to me. I adore this film. Love it Love it! You got my vote! Wonderful forever!
Under line story
Jamesdeeboyce25 May 2014
Can any one tell me the link between this film and JFK and Jacquie Kennedy and what happened before he got married is there some thing or not?? Please help I've watched this film twice and I do feel that the director was trying to tell us some thing else in the film is this film a work of fiction or more of a biography of events that happened to some one ( friend or some one in a position of power ) and the story could not be told out right ?? I feel the case could be made as he was in the Air Force and she was Greek And had money her self and he was also a bit of a Fe lander was this a marriage of Love or of revenge may be a woman scorned and obsessed by power behind every good man is a strong woman
Boring and stupid.
preppy-319 April 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This takes place from 1939 to 1948. An innocent French girl named Noelle (Marie-France Pisier) falls in love with American pilot Larry Douglas (John Beck). They live together for a while then he leaves her and promises to return. He's lying of course and leaves her alone and pregnant. He meets ditzy but intelligent Catherine (Susan Sarandon) and marries her. However Noelle marries a billionaire (Raf Vallone) and decides to take out her revenge on Larry.
This was supposed to be a big hit. It was based on a HUGE bestseller by Sidney Sheldon and they spent a lot of money on the production. It was shot on location in Greece, Italy and the US. The settings are beautiful, the costumes great and there's a wonderful music score propelling the movie. Also Pisier and Sarandon are wonderful in their roles. Unfortunately the movie bombed. It's easy to see why. It's WAY too long (165 minutes) and Beck is all wrong in his role. He's supposed to be sexually attractive and dynamic...but Beck can't pull it off. He's a total blank in the role and he's not good-looking at all. Considering he's one of the main characters it totally drains the film of any interest and makes it a chore to watch. I dozed off TWICE! Even worse some of the dialogue is SO bad it's incredible. Dull and stupid. Read the book instead.
This was supposed to be a big hit. It was based on a HUGE bestseller by Sidney Sheldon and they spent a lot of money on the production. It was shot on location in Greece, Italy and the US. The settings are beautiful, the costumes great and there's a wonderful music score propelling the movie. Also Pisier and Sarandon are wonderful in their roles. Unfortunately the movie bombed. It's easy to see why. It's WAY too long (165 minutes) and Beck is all wrong in his role. He's supposed to be sexually attractive and dynamic...but Beck can't pull it off. He's a total blank in the role and he's not good-looking at all. Considering he's one of the main characters it totally drains the film of any interest and makes it a chore to watch. I dozed off TWICE! Even worse some of the dialogue is SO bad it's incredible. Dull and stupid. Read the book instead.
Great love story
roanokebarry15 June 2006
This movie has it all....great love story even though it is cheesy sometimes....action....revenge and a sad but realistic ending.....why it was not a big hit I don't know but I will always like it and wish it was out on DVD......I wish the movie channels would show it more often...
It seems that when this movie was released the studio promotion was not there.....they didn't spend any money on it.....
When I think back on all the movies that are love stories this one always comes to mind and "the Summer of 42".... there is just something about the simple way they were written and how they show up on screen... anyway this will always be one of my favorites cant stop watching it....
There is a another movie that comes to mind that was not promoted much and is not out on DVD either and that is "Cinderella Liberty" a James Caan and Marsha Mason movie that is great....if you like love stories and some comedy this movie is special....Eli Wallach is also in the movie as a Navy Chief that is losing his rank and getting washed out of the Navy....James Caan trades places with him (and this does go on) and both live happily ever after.....10 out of 10 on this movie.
It seems that when this movie was released the studio promotion was not there.....they didn't spend any money on it.....
When I think back on all the movies that are love stories this one always comes to mind and "the Summer of 42".... there is just something about the simple way they were written and how they show up on screen... anyway this will always be one of my favorites cant stop watching it....
There is a another movie that comes to mind that was not promoted much and is not out on DVD either and that is "Cinderella Liberty" a James Caan and Marsha Mason movie that is great....if you like love stories and some comedy this movie is special....Eli Wallach is also in the movie as a Navy Chief that is losing his rank and getting washed out of the Navy....James Caan trades places with him (and this does go on) and both live happily ever after.....10 out of 10 on this movie.
Pretty straight forward look at how screwing to the top leads to tragedy
rlcsljo8 September 2002
A beautiful women recounts the events that lead to her being in jail. It shows how she learned to use her gorgeous face and rack to make it in the fashion and movie world (at the instigation of her father!). This leads to various liaisons with powerful men that can further her career and some with the man she loves. Except for a semi-surprise ending it is pretty much by the numbers. This movie is known for some classic and disturbing nude scenes.
Great Movie
chriscanary-123 December 2003
I saw this film when it first came out and it has stuck in my head since. I have never seen it on tv or in a video store, although I am sure it must have been on and I just missed it. The scenery is great. Marie France Pisier is absolutely gorgeous. John Beck plays a total bast*rd, very convincingly. I have never been a great fan of Susan Sarandon. Her role could have been played better by someone else. If this were remade today, maybe Gwyneth Paltrow? The abortion in the bathtub scene was so over the top at that time. The wardrobe is elegant and totally fabulous. However in one scene, Marie-France Pisier is decending a fabulous staircase, decked out in a very glamourous brown and earthtone pants outfit. Why is she wearing the same black, torn up platform shoes she wore in her earlier scenes when she was a struggling model?
Curl up on the sofa and break out the Kleenex.
Curl up on the sofa and break out the Kleenex.
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