That Midnight Kiss

That Midnight Kiss is a 1949 Technicolor American musical romance film also starring Mario Lanza (in his first leading role) and Kathryn Grayson. Among the supporting cast were Ethel Barrymore, conductor/pianist Jose Iturbi (playing himself), 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.

That Midnight Kiss
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Norman Taurog
Written by	Bruce Manning Tamara Hovey
Produced by	Joe Pasternak
Starring	Mario Lanza Kathryn Grayson Ethel Barrymore José Iturbi
Cinematography	Robert L. Surtees
Edited by	Gene Ruggiero
Music by	Charles Previn Conrad Salinger (uncredited)
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	September 22, 1949 (1949-09-22) (United States)
Running time	96 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1,701,000[1]
Box office	$3,177,000[1]

Plot

Abigail Trent Budell (Ethel Barrymore), a wealthy resident of Philadelphia and patron of the arts, supports her soprano granddaughter Prudence Budell (Kathryn Grayson), just returning from Europe after five years of vocal training. Prudence's grandmother sponsors an opera company run by the famous maestro Jose Iturbi (himself) to give her chance to lead an opera. They hire the also famous tenor Guido Russino Betelli (Thomas Gomez), but Prudence does not feel comfortable with him on the stage.

Prudence happens to see an American-Italian truck driver, Johnny Donnetti (Mario Lanza), singing opera. She soon becomes instrumental in bringing Johnny to public attention by insisting that he replace the opera troupe's defecting star tenor.^[2][3]

From here, Johnny becomes attracted to Prudence. Things get complicated when she encounters Mary (Marjorie Reynolds), one of Johnny's colleagues, whom she assumes is in love with him.

Cast

• Kathryn Grayson as Prudence Budell
• José Iturbi as José Iturbi (as Jose 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

Main article: That Midnight Kiss (album)

Reception

According to MGM records the film earned $1,728,000 in the US and Canada and $1,449,000 overseas resulting in a profit of $173,000.^[1][4]