The Horn Blows at Midnight

Name: The Horn Blows at Midnight
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Music
Released: April 28, 1945
Duration: 78 min
Rating: 60
Cast: Alexis Smith, Allyn Joslyn, Dolores Moran, Franklin Pangborn, Guy Kibbee

1945

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

No score yet

tbd

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

tbd	Your Score
tbd	User Score No score yet

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. | Release Date: April 28, 1945 | Approved

Starring: Alexis Smith, Allyn Joslyn, Dolores Moran, Franklin Pangborn, Guy Kibbee, Jack Benny, John Alexander, Margaret Dumont, Reginald Gardiner, Robert Blake

Summary: Falling asleep during the Paradise Coffee ("The Coffee that Makes You Sleep") Program, the band's third trumpeter dreams he's Athanael, an angel deputized to blow the Last Trumpet at exactly midnight on Earth. But Osidro and Doremus, two fallen angels enjoying the physical pleasures of an earthly existence, try to steal Athanael's trumpet,Falling asleep during the Paradise Coffee ("The Coffee that Makes You Sleep") Program, the band's third trumpeter dreams he's Athanael, an angel deputized to blow the Last Trumpet at exactly midnight on Earth. But Osidro and Doremus, two fallen angels enjoying the physical pleasures of an earthly existence, try to steal Athanael's trumpet, enlisting the aid of suave jewel thief Archie Dexter. Athanael fumbles his first try when he saves Archie's accomplice, Fran, from suicide. His second chance seems doomed when he's forced to leave his trumpet as security for a meal he can't pay for. But he gets it back just in time for a final confrontation with his desperate adversaries, dangling with them from the roof, only seconds from Midnight.… Expand

Director: Raoul Walsh

Genre(s): Fantasy, Comedy, Music

Rating: Approved

Runtime: 78 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Nathan Rabin

The Horn Blows At Midnight rarely pauses to catch its breath or give audiences time to catch up as it runs its hapless protagonist through a gauntlet of frenzied business and smart comic conceits over the course of its briskly paced 78 minutes. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

It's not all that funny -- but fascinating in a weird, knockabout way. [28 Aug 1998, p.O]

Staff (Not Credited)

The film’s rapid speed and its surplus of memorable supporting players helped to make sense of the absurd story. And if Benny was not ideally suited for the Bob Hope-level of bumbling misadventures or the Harold Lloyd-worthy climax involving a drop from a hotel rooftop, he gamely pushed ahead to keep the comedy at its patently ridiculous level. Read full review

Dave Kehr

It's bad, all right, but also weirdly compelling, thanks to some mind-boggling special effects work (check out the celestial chorus in the first reel) and some extremely speedy direction by Raoul Walsh, who seems to have decided that if the jokes weren't good, the least he could do was get through them fast. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Although Benny used this film as a running gag on his radio show for years (claiming it had ruined his movie career), there are some comic gems here, especially in the smash finale. Read full review

Bosley Crowther

The script is neither satire nor good, fresh, fanciful corn. It is a batch of old-fashioned nonsense put together without distinct charm. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

This one is a lightweight comedy that never seems able to make up its mind whether to be fantasy or broad slapstick. There are some good laughs but generally The Horn Blows at Midnight is not solid. Read full review

SEE ALL 7 REVIEWS

Write a Review

Negative:

No reviews yet.