The Night of Nights
The Night of Nights is a 1939 black-and-white drama film written by Donald Ogden Stewart and directed by Lewis Milestone for Paramount Pictures that starred Pat O'Brien, Olympe Bradna, and Roland Young.
The film received positive contemporary reviews from publications such as The New York Times. Director Milestone went on to other successful productions after the film came out, including Ocean's 11 and Pork Chop Hill.
The movie has no relation to the use of the phrase "Night of Nights" for the night of the Academy Awards ceremony,the album by musical group The Seekers, or the Touhou Project song.
Background
Milestone directed The Night of Nights nine years after winning the 1930 Academy Award for Best Director for All Quiet on the Western Front.
Plot
Dan O'Farrell (Pat O'Brien) was is a brilliant Broadway theater playwright, actor, and producer who has left the business. When he was younger, he and his partner Barry Keith-Trimble (Roland Young) were preparing for the opening night of O'Farell's play Laughter by getting drunk. When it was time to perform, they were so intoxicated they ended up brawling on stage and fell into the orchestra pit. The two left the theater and continued drinking, until they learn that they have been suspended. At the same time, O'Farrell learns that his wife, actress Alyce Martelle, is pregnant and has left him for ruining her performance in Laughter as Toni. Despondent, he in left the business and went into seclusion.
Podcasts:
This Night
Didn't I sayI wasn't ready for a romanceDidn't we promise
We would only be friendsAnd so we dancedThough it was only a slow dance
I started breaking my promisesRight there and thenDidn't I swear
There would be no complicationsDidn't you wantSomeone who's seen it all before
Now that you're hereIt's not the same situation
Suddenly I don't remember the rules anymoreThis night is mineIt's only you and I
TomorrowIs a long time awayThis night can last foreverI've been around
Someone like me should know betterFalling in love
Would be the worst thing I could doDidn't I sayI needed time to forget her
Aren't you running from someoneWho's not over youHow many nights
Have I been lonely without youI tell myselfHow much I really don't care
How many nightsHave I been thinking about youWanting to hold you
But knowing you would not be thereThis nightYou're mineIt's only you and I
I'll tell youTo forget yesterdayThis night we are togetherThis nightIs mine
It's only you and ITomorrowIs such a long time awayThis night can last forever