Night Without Sleep
Night Without Sleep is a 1952 American film noir mystery film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Gary Merrill, Linda Darnell and Hildegarde Neff. It was produced and distributed by 20th [Century Fox].
Plot
A composer, Richard Morton, experiences blackouts and cannot account for his actions. He seems to recall a woman's screams and a conversation with his wife, Emily, but it is all a blur.Morton goes to see his friend John Harkness and is introduced to a film actress, Julie Bannon, and is attracted to her. He also apparently has made a date with Lisa Muller, who is angry when Morton shows up two hours late. He loses his temper and threatens her.
Julie goes out with Morton and attempts to seduce him, but something in him resists. He returns to Lisa and begins to menace her again, only to suffer another blackout. When he wakes up, Morton is in his own home by himself and is unsure where he has been or what he has done.
He phones Lisa and learns she is all right. Concerned, he contacts Julie as well, but she also has not been harmed. Morton is glad that his violent temper did not cause him to lose control and that the woman's screams are all in his mind, until he goes to his own bedroom for the night and finds his wife there, dead.
Cast
- Gary Merrill as Richard Morton
- Linda Darnell as Julie Bannon
- Hildegarde Neff as Lisa Muller
- June Vincent as Emily Morton
- Hugh Beaumont as John Harkness
- Joyce MacKenzie as Laura Harkness
- Donald Randolph as Dr. Clarke
- Steven Geray as George
- Charles Tannen as Steve Brooks
- Louise Lorimer as Mrs. Carter
- William [Forrest (actor)|William Forrest] as Mr. Carter
- Benny Carter as Benny
- Bill Walker as Henry
- Beverly Tyler as Singer
- Mae Marsh as Maid