OPEN ALL NIGHT
starring Viola Dana, Jetta Goudal, Adolphe Menjou and Raymond Griffith
MOTION PICTURE MAGAZINE
December, 1924
Smart and sophisticated is this comedy of domestic and romantic complications - something suggestive of the same cloth as the memorable "Marriage Circle." It carries a Continental flavor - and features the old formula of a discontented wife who yearns for an occasional display of brutality from a mild-mannered husband. It has sex magnetism in its play of characters - and a dash of subtlety. There are no moralities to burden the plot.
The principal setting is the arena of a six-day bicycle race in Paris - with the disillusioned wife becoming deeply interested in a bike rider before he spoils the charm with his crude manners. He loses the race, the husband loses his temper. Result? Reconciliation. It is delightfully sketched with charming comedy strokes and capitally played by Maurice Flynn, Jetta Goudal, the clever Adolphe Menjou and Raymond Griffith.
OPEN ALL NIGHT
starring Viola Dana, Jetta Goudal, Adolphe Menjou and Raymond Griffith
MOVIE WEEKLY
October 11, 1924
"Open All Night" has less plot and more amusing situations than any picture we have encountered for some time. It has four stars, Viola Dana, Jetta Goudal, Adolphe Menjou and Raymond Griffith. However, the greatest opportunities fall to Lefty Flynn, who plays a French athlete engaged in the six-day bicycle race. His playful muscles, his broken nose and his caveman methods win the hearts of all maids and matrons. Lefty is wonderful in this part.
Jetta Goudal's performance, too, is perfection, and, as a Parisian courtesan, we think she is the most decorative person we ever saw on the screen. It is not necessary to say that Adolphe Menjou is splendid, for we have yet to see him give a performance that was not intelligent, charming and altogether delightful. Raymond Griffith is terrible funny as a New York floorwalker who aspires to being a second Valentino, but finally decides to be a second Fairbanks instead. Willis Goldbeck wrote the story which has for its central idea the certainty that women cease to adore a man when he treats them with deference. "Treat 'em rough and tell 'em nothing" is his motto. Paul Bern directed "Open All Night."
OPEN ALL NIGHT
starring Viola Dana, Jetta Goudal, Adolphe Menjou and Raymond Griffith
PICTURE PLAY
December 1924
"Open All Night" was suggested by one of Paul Morand's stories, but as Leon Errol used to explain, "How Far From!" It is a terrific effort at sophistication. It tries to be French and naughty but the only Parisian touch is the postal card view of the Eiffel Tower which introduces the story. What follows is cheap and vulgar and sometimes slimy, with only one golden episode translated directly from Morand's story of the night at the bicycle race.
One of the gratuitous improvements to the Morand sketch is
the introduction of the young wife of a placid gentleman who refuses
to treat her to the brutality she craves. And so she goes to
a six-day bicycle race and is introduced to the idol of the velodrome.
Meantime, the husband goes wandering and picks up with the little
friend of the bicycle rider. There is some pretty terrible comedy,
with most of the big laughs, if any, arising from people kissing
and green onions and men holding babies, and fat policemen.
An entirely superfluous part has been worked in for Raymond Griffith.
He is introduced as "the next great movie sheik," and
he has to be intoxicated all the way through the picture with
very little to keep him going. The only performance of delicacy
and charm is given by Jetta Goudal, although Adolphe Menjou makes
a gallant stand against the cheapness of the picture. Viola Dana,
as the wife, and Maurice Flynn, as the bicycle rider are rather
crude.
Video source: Facets