Midnight (1939)

Interesting facts

Midnight is a 1939 American screwball comedy film directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche, John Barrymore, Francis Lederer, Mary Astor, and Elaine Barrie. Written by Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder and based on a story by Edwin Justus Mayer and Franz Schulz, the film is about an unemployed American showgirl stranded in Paris who is set up by a millionaire to break up his wife's affair with another man.

Production

According to a Turner Classic Movies introduction by Robert Osborne, Wilder was unhappy with script changes made by director Leisen, giving him motivation to become a director himself so he would have more creative control.

The role that eventually went to Claudette Colbert was originally offered to Carole Lombard, who turned it down because she felt it was too similar to films she had already made. Barbara Stanwyck was then offered the role but scheduling problems prevented her from taking it. Marlene Dietrich was announced until Paramount bought out her contract due to her inclusion on the Box Office Poison list.

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