That Midnight Kiss
That Midnight Kiss is a 1949 Technicolor American musical romance film also starring Mario Lanza and Kathryn Grayson. Among the supporting cast were Ethel Barrymore, conductor/pianist Jose Iturbi, Keenan Wynn, J. Carrol Naish, and Jules Munshin. The commercially popular film was directed by Norman Taurog, who the following year would again direct Lanza and Grayson in the even more successful The Toast of New Orleans.
Plot
Abigail Trent Budell, a wealthy resident of Philadelphia and patron of the arts, supports her soprano granddaughter Prudence Budell, just returning from Europe after five years of vocal training. Prudence's grandmother sponsors an opera company run by the famous maestro Jose Iturbi to give her chance to lead an opera. They hire the also famous tenor Guido Russino Betelli, but Prudence does not feel comfortable with him on the stage.Prudence happens to see an American-Italian truck driver, Johnny Donnetti, singing opera. She soon becomes instrumental in bringing Johnny to public attention by insisting that he replace the opera troupe's defecting star tenor.
From here, Johnny becomes attracted to Prudence. Things get complicated when she encounters Mary, one of Johnny's colleagues, whom she assumes is in love with him.
Cast
- Kathryn Grayson as Prudence Budell
- José Iturbi as José Iturbi
- Ethel Barrymore as Abigail Trent Budell
- Mario Lanza as Johnny Donnetti
- Keenan Wynn as Artie Geoffrey Glenson
- J. Carrol Naish as Papa Donnetti
- Jules Munshin as Michael Pemberton
- Thomas Gomez as Guido Russino Betelli
- Marjorie Reynolds as Mary
- Arthur Treacher as Hutchins
- Mimi Aguglia as Mamma Donnetti
- Amparo Iturbi as Amparo Iturbi
- Bridget Carr as Donna Donnetti
- Amparo Ballester as Rosina Donnetti
- Ann Codee as Mme. Bouget
Music