CLASH BY NIGHT (DVD/STND-1.37/ENG-FR-SP SUB) DVD

Clash by Night
The opening credits appearing over a turbulent ocean serve as a foreshadowing of things to come in this standard-issue love triangle that shifts into high drama thanks to taut direction by Fritz Lang and a sizzling performance by Barbara Stanwyck. Returning to live with her brother, Joe (Keith Andes), at her family's home in a small fishing village, Mae Doyle (Stanwyck) has reached rock bottom. Reeling from the pain of her previous romances, Mae slowly pieces things together and begins dating Jerry (Paul Douglas), a simple-minded fisherman. More along Mae's speed is Jerry's slick, boozy pal Earl Pfeiffer (Robert Ryan), a film projectionist who makes his feelings for her known right away despite the fact that he is married. Mae spurns his advances and decides to marry Jerry. Meanwhile, Joe has grown close to ditzy factory worker Peggy (Marilyn Monroe). Some time later, Mae and Jerry have had a baby, and things appear happy, but Mae is not in love with Jerry, and soon finds herself in Earl's arms. Jerry discovers the affair, and during a confrontation with the deceitful couple, Mae reveals that she is leaving to be with Earl. After some booze and a pep talk from his Uncle Vince (J. Carrol Naish), Jerry confronts Earl and proceeds to nearly strangle him until Mae arrives. Jerry storms off, but when Mae comes to their home to retrieve the baby, she discovers that Jerry has taken the child. Desperately upset, she explains the situation to Earl, but as they talk, she begins to arrive at a new realization about her life and what it takes to find happiness. ~ Patrick Legare, All Movie Guide

Cast Barbara Stanwyck as Mae Doyle D'Amato Paul Douglas as Jerry D'Amato Robert Ryan as Earl Pfeiffer Marilyn Monroe as Peggy J. Carrol Naish as Uncle Vince Keith Andes as Joe Doyle Silvio Minciotti as Papa D'Amato

Crew Carroll Clark - Art Director Albert S. D'Agostino - Art Director Fritz Lang - Director George J. Amy - Editor Roy Webb - Composer (Music Score) Constantin Bakaleinikoff - Musical Direction/Supervision Jack Baker - Songwriter George Fragos - Songwriter Joe Gasparre - Songwriter Mel Berns - Makeup Nick Musuraca - Cinematographer Harriet Parsons - Producer Tony Martin - Singer Jack Mills - Set Designer Darrell Silvera - Set Designer Harold E. Wellman - Special Effects Jean L. Speak - Sound/Sound Designer Clem Portman - Sound/Sound Designer Alfred Hayes - Screenwriter David Dortort - Screenwriter Clifford Odets - Play Author

Clash by Night
You can cut the melodrama with a knife in this compelling but occasionally overblown drama directed by Fritz Lang and based on the play by Clifford Odets. Supported with the usual fine direction by Lang, Clash by Night is also the beneficiary of a remarkable performance by star Barbara Stanwyck, who delivers her biting, caustic dialogue with perfection. "What do you want, Joe, my life's history," she snaps miserably. "Here it is in four words: big ideas, small results." Alternating between bitterness and tenderness, Stanwyck delivers a character who could have been a disaster in the hands of a lesser actress. Paul Douglas, looking, sounding, and acting a lot like Lon Chaney Jr., provides a solid characterization of the simpleton who falls for Stanwyck, and Robert Ryan infuses his lecherous Earl with the requisite nasty disposition. Lang may have had trouble handling Marilyn Monroe, but the blonde bombshell is a pleasant, lighthearted addition in a supporting role. The script by Alfred Hayes is excellent, and feeds Stanwyck and Ryan with plenty of ripe dialogue, while building the story up to the inevitable "clash" foretold in the title. As a footnote in the politically incorrect department, Ryan does an atrocious Chinese impression. ~ Patrick Legare, All Movie Guide
 

(no awards)

General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: DD1: Dolby Digital Mono Additional Features: cc Commentary by filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich, with audio interview excerpts of director Fritz Lang Theatrical trailer Subtitles: English, Français & Español (feature film only) DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1: Pre-1954 Standard MPAA Rating: NR DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 105 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 1. Credits [1:56] 2. Day's Catch [3:28] 3. Back Home [2:55] 4. Life's History [5:14] 5. Where She Goes [2:40] 6. Date Night [5:17] 7. Drinks With Earl [4:58] 8. Wrong [5:20] 9. Buzzing Around [3:25] 10. Foolish Questions [4:06] 11. Tough to Please [4:18] 12. Nonmember of the Wedding [4:53] 13. Evening Heat [6:05] 14. The Drunk and the Restless [3:49] 15. Dying of Loneliness [1:35] 16. Fierce Embrace [4:03] 17. Ask About Your Wife [2:41] 18. Suspicious Search [5:12] 19. Animals [3:41] 20. Love the Hard Way [4:07] 21. Get Out! [2:35] 22. The Woman I Marry [4:36] 23. Confrontation [3:40] 24. High-Stakes Gamble [1:31] 25. Trust Somebody [8:49]