MIDNIGHT LACE is one of the many movies that capitalizes on the terrorized wife who is in danger for her life, and who's tormentor is often her husband and mistress in tow. GASLIGHT was one of the earliest and better examples of this type of storytelling as well as LES DIABOLIQUES; ENOUGH one of the latest with the twist that this time around, the wife stops being afraid and decides to kick some arse.
Doris Day, attempting to put aside the wholesome girl she was known for -- an image that stayed with her regardless of what she tried to do -- plays Kit Preston, the menaced wife of Tony Preston (Rex Harrison, effectively suave and creepy), and though her performance is intense, nowadays it's become very shrill. But nevertheless this is a movie made for the people of its time, with production values from the late 50s, a little over-glamorized, and one which doesn't try to be a great film as the adaptation of the play it comes from. Myrna Loy does a nice turn here, showing how gracefully she was aging, and it's a shame she didn't continue to appear as frequently.
Doris Day, attempting to put aside the wholesome girl she was known for -- an image that stayed with her regardless of what she tried to do -- plays Kit Preston, the menaced wife of Tony Preston (Rex Harrison, effectively suave and creepy), and though her performance is intense, nowadays it's become very shrill. But nevertheless this is a movie made for the people of its time, with production values from the late 50s, a little over-glamorized, and one which doesn't try to be a great film as the adaptation of the play it comes from. Myrna Loy does a nice turn here, showing how gracefully she was aging, and it's a shame she didn't continue to appear as frequently.