The Midnight Story

The Midnight Story

1957 theatrical poster
Directed by Joseph Pevney
Produced by Robert Arthur
Written by John Robinson
Screenplay by Edwin Blum
Story by Edwin Blum
Starring Tony Curtis
Marisa Pavan
Gilbert Roland
Music by Hans J. Salter
Henry Vars
Cinematography Russell Metty
Edited by Ted J. Kent
Production
company
Universal International
Distributed by Universal International
Release dates
  • July 4, 1957 (1957-07-04) (New York City)
  • August 1957 (1957-08) (United States)
Running time
 89 minutes
Country United States
Language English

The Midnight Story (also known as Appointment with a Shadow in the UK and The Eyes of Father Tomasino in Australia) is a 1957 film noir crime film starring Tony Curtis about a traffic cop who becomes obsessed with finding the murderer of a beloved priest. He becomes friendly with the family of his main suspect, resulting in emotional complications.

Plot

Father Tomasino is stabbed to death. San Francisco traffic cop Joe Martini felt the priest was like an actual father to him. He asks to assist homicide Lieutenant Kilrain in his investigation, but after being rejected, Joe quits the force.

He has a hunch restaurant owner Sylvio Malatesta could be involved. Joe is warmly welcomed by Sylvio's family, however, and falls in love with a cousin, Anna. He hides his past identity as a cop from her.

Something is troubling Sylvio, but the family believes he still misses a sweetheart killed in Italy during the war. Sylvio also has an alibi for the night of the priest's murder, but Sergeant Gillen gets word to Joe that the alibi is a fake.

In a ploy to encourage Sylvio to confide in him, Joe pretends to be a murder suspect himself. Sylvio breaks down and admits to having killed his own sweetheart, then the priest as well after confiding to him about the murder in confession. Sylvio runs into the street and is struck by a moving vehicle. Dying, he begs for Joe's forgiveness.

Cast


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