Fresh
Stanwyck turns in a fine performance. MacMurray is impressive as the serious-minded prosecutor, but loosens up for the comedy stretches.
Variety Staff, Variety
Remember the Night
Barbara and Fred in 1940's first great love affair…!
1940 · 1h 34m · PASSED
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Directed by
Mitchell Leisen
Free account saves your watchlist and ratings.
Remember the Night
Overview
Unexpected love blossoms when an assistant district attorney agrees to take a recidivist shoplifter home so she doesn't have to spend Christmas alone in jail.
Director and cast
- Mitchell Leisen Director
- Barbara Stanwyck as Lee Leander
- Fred MacMurray as John Sargent
- Beulah Bondi as Mrs. Sargent
- Elizabeth Patterson as Aunt Emma
- Willard Robertson as Francis X. O'Leary
- Sterling Holloway as Willie Simms
- Charles Waldron as Judge in New York
- Paul Guilfoyle Cast
- Charles Arnt Cast
- John Wray Cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
100%
Tomatometer
Fresh
Playing superbly on the personae of his leads, Leisen creates a movie of warmth and immense style, which never quite trips over into excessive sentimentality.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Fresh
Perhaps this is a bit too early in the season to be talking of the best pictures of 1940; it is not too early to say that Paramount's nomination is worth considering.
Frank S. Nugent, New York Times
Fresh
The loose, graceful script is by Preston Sturges (one of his last before he turned to directing), and it partakes of a softness and nostalgia that seldom surfaced in his own films.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
More films
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Comedy · Drama · Family · Approved
Kris Kringle, seemingly the embodiment of Santa Claus, is asked to portray the jolly old fellow at Macy's following his performance in the Thanksgiving Day parade. His portrayal is so complete that many begin to question if he truly is Santa Claus, while others question his sanity.
- Runtime
- 1h 36m
- Director
- George Seaton
- Cast
- Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn
IMDb
7.9
Rotten Tomatoes
96%
Metacritic
88
The Santa Clause (1994)
Comedy · Drama · Family · Fantasy · PG
On Christmas Eve, divorced dad Scott Calvin and his son discover Santa Claus has fallen off their roof. When Scott takes the reins of the magical sleigh, he finds he is now the new Santa, and must convince a world of disbelievers, including himself.
- Runtime
- 1h 37m
- Director
- John Pasquin
- Cast
- Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson
IMDb
6.6
Rotten Tomatoes
73%
Metacritic
57
A Merry Little Ex-Mas (2025)
Comedy · Romance · N/A
Recently separated, Kate hopes to celebrate one last perfect family Christmas with her soon-to-be ex-husband Everett and their kids before their divorce is final and the house is sold. But her holiday plans are hilariously derailed when Everett unexpectedly brings his younger, successful new girlfriend.
- Runtime
- 1h 31m
- Director
- Steve Carr
- Cast
- Alicia Silverstone, Oliver Hudson, Jameela Jamil
45 Years (2015)
Drama · Romance · R
There is just one week until Kate Mercer's 45th wedding anniversary and the planning for the party is going well. But then a letter arrives for her husband. The body of his first love has been discovered, frozen and preserved in the icy glaciers of the Swiss Alps. By the time the party is upon them, five days later, there may not be a ...
- Runtime
- 1h 35m
- Director
- Andrew Haigh
- Cast
- Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtenay, Geraldine James
IMDb
7.1
Rotten Tomatoes
96%
Metacritic
94
Love the Coopers (2015)
Comedy · Drama · Family · PG-13
When four generations of the Cooper clan come together for their annual Christmas Eve celebration, a series of unexpected visitors and unlikely events turn the night upside down, leading them all toward a surprising rediscovery of family bonds and the spirit of the holiday.
- Runtime
- 1h 47m
- Director
- Jessie Nelson
- Cast
- Diane Keaton, John Goodman, Olivia Wilde
IMDb
5.8
Rotten Tomatoes
19%
Metacritic
31
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Crime · Drama · Thriller · R
Clarice Starling is a top student at the FBI's training academy. Jack Crawford wants Clarice to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a violent psychopath, serving life behind bars for various acts of murder and cannibalism. Crawford believes that Lecter may have insight into a case and that Starling, as...
- Runtime
- 1h 59m
- Director
- Jonathan Demme
- Cast
- Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn
IMDb
8.6
Rotten Tomatoes
95%
Metacritic
86
Philadelphia (1993)
Drama · PG-13
Two lawyers join forces to sue a prestigious law firm for AIDS discrimination. As their unlikely friendship develops, their courage overcomes the prejudice and corruption of their powerful adversaries.
- Runtime
- 2h 6m
- Director
- Jonathan Demme
- Cast
- Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Jason Robards
IMDb
7.7
Rotten Tomatoes
81%
Metacritic
66
The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
Mystery · Thriller · R
Years after his squad was ambushed during the Gulf War, Major Ben Marco finds himself having terrible nightmares. He begins to doubt that his fellow squad-mate Sergeant Raymond Shaw, now a vice-presidential candidate, is the hero he remembers him being. As Marco's doubts deepen, Shaw's political power grows, and, when Marco finds a mys...
- Runtime
- 2h 10m
- Director
- Jonathan Demme
- Cast
- Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Liev Schreiber
IMDb
6.6
Rotten Tomatoes
79%
Metacritic
76
Stop Making Sense (1984)
Documentary · Music · PG
A concert film documenting Talking Heads at the height of their popularity, on tour for their 1983 album "Speaking in Tongues." The band takes the stage one by one and is joined by a cadre of guest musicians for a career-spanning and cinematic performance that features creative choreography and visuals.
- Runtime
- 1h 28m
- Director
- Jonathan Demme
- Cast
- David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison
IMDb
8.7
Rotten Tomatoes
100%
Metacritic
94
Something Wild (1986)
Comedy · Crime · Romance · R
A free-spirited woman "kidnaps" a yuppie for a weekend of adventure. But the fun quickly takes a dangerous turn when her ex-con husband shows up.
- Runtime
- 1h 54m
- Director
- Jonathan Demme
- Cast
- Jeff Daniels, Melanie Griffith, Ray Liotta
IMDb
6.9
Rotten Tomatoes
92%
Metacritic
73
Comments
Talk about the film with other members