The Worst Film Ever

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Jack Benny's role is almost the sole reason to give this movie five stars, let alone any rating at all. And, although he doesn't have as much witty dialog as he has in other films, his lines and persona seem just right in "The Horn Blows at Midnight." He is an innocent, naïve, faithful angel (in his dream), who knows nothing about the customs of life on earth. He plays Athanael very well. But, the screenplay just isn't very good. The dialog is weak, the film editing seems choppy, and the direction is poor. Some reviewers like the "concept" of heaven, but I could see little comedy there. There could have had been some laughs or chuckles there, but a lame screenplay missed good opportunities for humor. I'm reluctant to put down all the rest of the cast, because of the poor script. But, no one else acted very well in their respective roles. Alexis Smith, as Elizabeth, seemed to be trying to remember her lines – her focus was far off at times. Dolores Moran was so-so as a temptress, but weak as the cigarette girl. Franklin Pangborn's comedy wasn't milked enough, and Guy Kibbee's comedy talents were wasted in his role as The Chief. Most of the other roles seemed wooden.The film added some Harold Lloyd antics toward the end. That turned out to be too long a scene so that it lost its humor quickly. Any "fright" value it might have had quickly waned. That type of comedy had a fright value that could be sustained in the silent and black and white films of the early 20th century. But, by mid-century, it was old stuff that wore out quickly. Jack Benny was a fine comic actor who made some very good comedy films and had one of the longest running radio shows in history (23 plus years from 1932 to 1955). He then all but "retired" from films in favor of TV in the mid-1950s. His own highly popular TV show aired for more than 15 years (1950-1965). Three of his films are among my favorite comedies: "Charley's Aunt" of 1941, and "To Be or Not to Be" and "George Washington Slept Here" – both of 1942.

This movie is very mediocre. Jack Benny isn't used nearly as well as he could be, and the script is very weak. I can't stand any movie that uses the "it was just a dream" cheat to get the hero out of a difficult situation, and this one does it very poorly. We're told at the beginning of the movie it's a dream, and I quickly lost interest from that point onward.On the other hand, Jack Benny made a 1-hour radio version of this movie for The Ford Theater in 1949. That version isn't great; it's like most comedy from that era that hasn't worn as well as those from earlier or later time periods. However, it has a better script, and it is NOT a dream! More importantly, whoever did the update was able to come up with a pretty good ending for a story that sets up an impossible situation (destroying the world isn't typically considered a good ending in a comedy). The radio version's ending was very timely for 1949, and a little sad listening to it today.If you want to hear it, the radio version is relatively easy to locate on the internet. Just search for "The Horn Blows at Midnight" and "Ford Theater", and you should be able to find multiple sites with the mp3.

Raoul Walsh has made better movies, starting with "Regeneration" (filmed on location in Lower Manhattan slums in 1915), but this whimsical comedy, set in heaven and New York City, has two worthy qualities: First: The comedy works, especially the wisecracks (Cop: "Are you looking for trouble, Bud?" Angel: "No, I'm looking for Junior Pulplinsky.") Second: Forget Jack Benny and check out at the supporting cast.This film is one of the best 78 minutes an aspiring film buff could watch to see a collection of great character actors from the 1930s and 1940s: Allyn Joslyn, Reginald Gardner, Guy Kibbee, Margaret Dumont, Dudley Dickerson, Ethel Griffies, Mike Mazurky, James Burke, the under-used blonde dish Dolores Moran, and the endlessly imitable Franklin Pangborn. Oh, yes, and 12-year-old Robert Blake as Junior Pulplinsky.

Not really as terrible as my rating might seem to indicate. This movie is mildly amusing, has imaginative set design, and there are some visually stunning shots. I'd give it an average rating of 5 or so, except it loses points for a couple important reasons.First...the stars.This was my introduction to Jack Benny and I was not impressed. I didn't find him funny at all - which could be the script's weakness as well, but Benny's physical presence & personality should've made up for poor writing...and didn't. He is one of the least charming, least attractive "leading men" I've ever seen. I understand he had a very popular radio show... well, maybe film just wasn't his medium.Alexis Smith plays Benny's unlikely love interest, and her character isn't really developed - she might as well be made of cardboard. Guy Kibbee is fun, but woefully underused.Second...the story.The script makes a slight attempt to Say Something Serious about the state of the planet. The angels plan to destroy Earth because... we suck. So we'd better start behaving better! I guess. The message is vague and there's no real follow-through. This sort of storyline - the end of the world due to humanity's failure - feels like it *should* be taken seriously. It doesn't fit in such a fluffy film.I absolutely LOATHE the "it was only a dream" plot device. Especially when it's revealed to be a dream at the beginning of the movie! What the heck is the point of *that*? Knowing from the start that everything you're about to see, isn't really happening, kind of sucks the fun out of it. The story becomes pointless and meaningless. It feels like they just couldn't figure out how to resolve the whole Earth-is-doomed thing. There was no way out of it (unless the writers went with a more serious treatment - maybe a twist on "It's A Wonderful Life", yeah, this time it's up to a human to convince an angel that humanity is worth saving...call it "It's A Wonderful World After All"). Anyway, after Benny wakes up, nothing really changes in his life, and nothing has been learned. Utterly pointless.I can see how people might enjoy "The Horn Blows At Midnight" if they're in the mood for something surreal and silly (although it never hits the heights of truly inspired silliness such as you'll find in a Marx Brothers movie, for instance). So, not as stinky as it's reputed to be, but FAR from the lost comedy classic some would like to believe.