Midnight (1939) in Color — Starring Claudette Colbert & Don Ameche

Midnight (1939) — Buy This Classic in Color

Midnight (1939) is a dazzling screwball comedy starring Claudette Colbert as a penniless American showgirl in Paris who poses as a Hungarian baroness, with Don Ameche as the lovesick taxi driver who pursues her and John Barrymore in a sparkling, scene-stealing performance as the wealthy schemer who bankrolls the entire deception. Directed by Mitchell Leisen from a razor-sharp screenplay by the legendary Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett, this professionally colorized version brings effervescent new life to one of the wittiest, most perfectly constructed comedies Hollywood ever produced. Buy your colorized copy today for €15.00 and own this brilliant classic movie in color.

Plot Summary

Eve Peabody (Claudette Colbert) arrives in Paris completely flat broke, wearing a stunning gold lamé evening gown and absolutely nothing else of value — no money, no luggage, no prospects, and no plan beyond sheer determination and dazzling nerve. Stepping out of a train into the rainy Parisian night, she encounters Tibor Czerny (Don Ameche), a kind, earnest, hopelessly romantic Hungarian taxi driver who falls for her instantly and refuses to charge her a fare, convinced that this radiant, mysterious woman in gold is the most wonderful creature he has ever met. But Eve has far bigger ambitions than a taxi driver’s modest affections — she wants wealth, glamour, and the full glittering life that Paris promises. When the enormously wealthy and deeply cunning Georges Flammarion (John Barrymore) discovers Eve at a music hall, he sees a brilliant opportunity — his beautiful, bored wife Hélène (Mary Astor) is having an affair with the smooth, insufferable Jacques Picot (Francis Lederer), and Georges needs someone glamorous, charming, and convincing enough to lure Picot away from his marriage. He hires Eve to pose as the entirely fictional Baroness Czerny and infiltrate his own household as a distinguished guest, offering her unlimited money, spectacular clothes, and a temporary life of breathtaking luxury in exchange for seducing his wife’s lover. This classic movie spirals into magnificently, deliriously escalating comic complications as Eve navigates the treacherous, glittering waters of Parisian high society, inventing an increasingly elaborate fictional history for her imaginary baroness while the persistent, devoted Tibor tracks her down and threatens to expose the entire spectacular charade. The Billy Wilder-Charles Brackett screenplay delivers one brilliant comic twist after another, each revelation more inspired and hilarious than the last, building to a courtroom finale of such inspired, perfectly choreographed lunacy that it remains one of the funniest, most satisfying conclusions in the history of screwball comedy.

Cast & Crew

Director: Mitchell Leisen

Stars: Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche, John Barrymore, Francis Lederer, Mary Astor, Elaine Barrie, Hedda Hopper, Monty Woolley, Rex O’Malley

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This colorized version of Midnight reveals the glamorous Parisian settings, the sumptuous costumes, and the opulent high-society interiors with vivid, breathtaking new detail. The original black and white photography captured the film’s sophisticated visual charm, but the professionally colorized restoration transforms the experience — revealing Eve’s iconic gold lamé gown shimmering under the Paris night lights, the warm amber glow of candlelit dinner parties at the Flammarion estate, the rich jewel tones of Mary Astor’s elegant wardrobe, the lush green of the Parisian gardens, and the chic, sophisticated palette of 1930s nightlife — all rendered with meticulous frame-by-frame precision. The visual glamour perfectly complements Wilder and Brackett’s razor-sharp wit. Now also available in colour.

Buy Midnight in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Midnight is a classic film universally regarded as one of the greatest screwball comedies ever made, featuring a screenplay by the legendary Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett that is considered an absolute masterclass in comic writing — every line polished to diamond brilliance, every plot twist perfectly engineered to maximize both surprise and laughter. Claudette Colbert delivers one of her most effortlessly charming performances, demonstrating the quicksilver intelligence, impeccable timing, and radiant screen presence that made her the definitive leading lady of 1930s comedy. John Barrymore is magnificent as the scheming millionaire, delivering his lines with such relish and theatrical grandeur that his performance alone would make the film essential viewing. Mitchell Leisen’s direction balances sophistication, slapstick, and genuine romantic emotion with the elegant precision that distinguished his finest work at Paramount. The film was a significant box-office success and cemented the Wilder-Brackett partnership that would soon produce some of Hollywood’s greatest achievements. The restored colorized version allows modern audiences to watch this pinnacle of Hollywood screwball wit with the visual glamour and Parisian elegance its magnificent settings have always deserved.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD restored
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: Original mono restored
• Runtime: Approximately 94 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Was this written by Billy Wilder?
A: Yes — the screenplay was co-written by Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett, and is widely considered one of their finest, most brilliantly constructed comedic scripts.

Q: Is this the colorized version of the full film?
A: Yes, this is the complete 94-minute feature, professionally colorized frame-by-frame from the restored original.

Q: How does John Barrymore perform in this?
A: Barrymore is absolutely magnificent — his performance as the scheming, quick-thinking millionaire who orchestrates the entire deception is one of his greatest late-career achievements, delivering every line with irresistible theatrical relish.

Q: Is this a romantic comedy?
A: Yes — at its heart, Midnight is a romance between Eve and Tibor, wrapped in one of the most elaborately hilarious comic plots Hollywood ever devised, with a screenplay that balances genuine emotion and brilliant farce with extraordinary skill.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: DRM-free MP4, compatible with virtually any device or media player.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: €15.00 for instant download. The colorization process ensures every scene looks stunning in color.

Q: Can I watch on multiple devices?
A: Absolutely. The file is DRM-free, so you can watch on your TV, tablet, phone, or computer.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
• Follow the Fleet (1936)
• The Model and the Marriage Broker (1951)
• Unfaithfully Yours (1948)
• The Secret Fury (1950)