Remember the Night | Rotten Tomatoes

Remember the Night

1940

1 hr. 34 min.

Holiday

Romance

Comedy

List

100%

12 Reviews

Tomatometer

84%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

Moved to pity by the Christmas season, New York District Attorney John Sargent (Fred MacMurray) lets pretty shoplifter Lee Leander (Barbara Stanwyck) out on bail and offers her a ride home to Indiana. Along the way they have a run-in with a Pennsylvania sheriff, meet each others' parents, and eventually fall in love. John's mother, however, disapproves, and warns Lee to stay away, lest she damage John's career. Not wanting to cause trouble, Lee resolves to leave the man she loves.

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Mike D

Heart warming film. The themes are very contemporary. Stanwyck is always mesmerizing.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/21/23

Full Review

Tim O

Classic Christmas Canon flick in our household. Mismatched couple makes the journey across country, to their roots and back. Standard tropes, well delivered. Most modern films would be lucky to be *half* as entertaining as this film was 83 years ago.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/18/23

Full Review

Shadowman4710

A rather charming, if quite dated romantic comedy set during the Christmas season. Barbara Stanwick and Fred MacMurray had a great deal of charisma on-screen, which is readily apparent here. I'd say it's a good one for those interested in older films using Holidays as a backdrop.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/16/23

Full Review

Kristy R

At no point was this movie even entertaining. Had to force myself to watch to the end

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

12/10/23

Full Review

Angelo R

I discovered this just a few years ago. It quickly became, probably, my favorite holiday movie. The story is quite charming. The traveling home for Christmas is quite the story. Barbara Stanwyk's heart breaking story of "you can't go home" sets up the heart warming tale Fred MacMurry's family taking her in and showing the true spirit of Christmas. Wonderful acting all around. Puts in a happy holidays spirit just thinking of it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/14/23

Full Review

Steve D

Quite fun besides the stupid (code mandated?) resolution.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/25/23

Full Review

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Mitch Leisen

Director

Barbara Stanwyck

Lee Leander

Fred MacMurray

John Sargent

Beulah Bondi

Mrs. Sargent

Elizabeth Patterson

Aunt Emma

Willard Robertson

Francis X. O'Leary

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THR Staff

Hollywood Reporter

A heart-warming story based on a distinctly unique premise, sparkling comedy which always has a latent heart tug, superlative performances, an excellent script, top notch production and direction.

Dec 17, 2021

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Stanwyck turns in a fine performance. MacMurray is impressive as the serious-minded prosecutor, but loosens up for the comedy stretches.

Nov 12, 2007

Full Review

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

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.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

That modestly budgeted political satire was a sleeper hit with audiences as well as critics...excellent 1940 seriocomedy...

Jul 31, 2023

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

With an unusually bittersweet conclusion (censors may have had something to do with that), the film is pleasant, irresistible, and unforgettable.

Rated: 9/10

Aug 14, 2020

Full Review

Harry MacArthur

Washington Star

[Director Mitchell Leisen and Script Writer Preston Sturges] have, with the help of a pair of top-notch performances by Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray, given us a fresh and completely engaging yarn.

Apr 3, 2020

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Synopsis

Moved to pity by the Christmas season, New York District Attorney John Sargent (Fred MacMurray) lets pretty shoplifter Lee Leander (Barbara Stanwyck) out on bail and offers her a ride home to Indiana. Along the way they have a run-in with a Pennsylvania sheriff, meet each others' parents, and eventually fall in love. John's mother, however, disapproves, and warns Lee to stay away, lest she damage John's career. Not wanting to cause trouble, Lee resolves to leave the man she loves.

Director: Mitch Leisen
Screenwriter: Preston Sturges
Production Co: Paramount
Genre: Holiday, Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2020