Sadly Over-hyped

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Ginger Rogers is the last of the Myrna Loy hopes (producers, studios) as sidekick to the variety of sleuths played by William Powell in the 30s. Entering the decade with his successful Philo Vance series (The Kennel Murder Case) he hit the jackpot when teamed up with Myrna in The Thin Man series but that did not stop producers from testing other couplings such as Jean Arthur in The Ex Mrs.Bradford and Ginger Rogers in Star of Midnight. Adequate at best they go pale with the spirit of Nora hovering over them so much you find yourself wishing she would walk through the door and tell Jean and Ginger to beat it, she'll take it from their.Clay Dazzle, wealthy dilettante detective (Nick by any other name) does a pal a favor to avoid a scandal and instead gets mixed up in a murder mystery. Flaky society girl Donna Martin with a major crush on Clay tags along for the ride. Sound familiar? Rogers in the midst of partnering in an even greater duo is rather ditsy and passive and like Arthur displays little chemistry with the focused Powell. She is more obstacle than full partner and her verbal chops just not up to sparring with him.The mystery itself is both convoluted and contrived and with Rogers unable to hold her own with Powell Star of Midnight falls fast.

The ending of this film is very disappointing. Suddenly it seems as if they ran out of celluloid and we are cheated out of seeing the real ending.Before that, it's a fairly decent mystery. A mysterious actress/singer suddenly (and I do mean suddenly) disappears. So many people -- with varying motives -- are looking for her. But the one who is trying to solve the case is William Powell.If there's a real reason to watch this film, it's William Powell. There's something special about Powell in virtually every film he ever appeared in.Ginger Rogers is "okay" as the female lead, but she seriously pales in the shadow of Myrna Loy in the Thin Man series (which was filmed a year before this movie). It's just not a really good film match.Paul Kelly was somewhat interesting here as a high class gangster. Gene Lockhart had a disappointing role as the butler. You'll notice a few other recognizable character actors, including J. Farrell MacDonald as the Police Inspector.Again, the reason to watch this film is William Powell, though the basic story is decent. But, it's such a let down after "The Thin Man".

My first favorite is Clifton Webb's bathroom in "Laura". When I win the lottery, I plan to hand the DVD of "Laura" to the finest interior decorator money can hire and say, "Create Waldo Lydecker's bathroom for me." Now that I've seen "Star of Midnight", I will have to add, "And incorporate William Powell's shower." Besides the fantastic Art Deco sets, Star of Midnight is enjoyable for the excellent comic yet suave performance by William Powell. Perhaps inspired by Powell, Ginger Rogers is less wooden than usual, and I (no Ginger fan) found myself rooting for her in her pursuit of marital bliss. Paul Kelly, Gene Lockhart and J. Farrell MacDonald turn in respectable if not particularly memorable performances. The only two clucks in the bunch are Leslie Fenton as the young man in search of a lost love (even if they scraped off the pancake makeup and the extra eyeliner he still would only have one expression in his repertoire), and a clod-footed "comic" turn by Robert Emmett O'Connor as a dumb police detective. Fortunately, they have very few scenes. I enjoyed "Star of Midnight", especially for William Powell's performance, and will watch it again and again.

The plot was a bit loose and incredulous, but no movie with William Powell and Ginger Rogers can be bad. It slightly resembles the much better film, The Thin Man (1934), but it was fun nevertheless. Powell and Rogers have good chemistry together and provide some of the comedy with their antics, with other comedy supplied by inept police officer, Robert Emmett O'Connor. I guessed who the murderer was early, but couldn't provide the motive until it was explained.