“That Midnight Kiss” was the first film ever to star Mario Lanza, and Hollywood immediately fell in love with this shy young man with the golden voice. He plays Johnny Donnetti, truck driver and son of Italian immigrants who run a restaurant. He studied opera for a time, but it never panned out for him, so he spends his time delivering furniture.
Kathryn Grayson is Prudence Budell, a young lady who desperately wants to be an opera star. Her grandmother, Abigail Budell (Ethel Barrymore) is a wealthy woman who donates much of her fortune to the arts. She decides to start up a civic opera to give Prudence a proper platform to try out her talents, and she hires Jose Iturbi (portrayed by himself) to conduct and direct. It is decided that Prudence will have the starring role in the opera, and the great Betelli will sing the lead tenor role.
But Betelli is anything but a romantic figure, and Prudence has a hard time looking at him while she sings the love songs. Iturbi becomes frustrated with her, and she explains that she just can’t feel romantic while looking at Betelli. Iturbi tells her that if she can find a tenor who looks the part of a romantic lead, he’ll give him an audition.
Well, as luck would have it, Johnny is set to deliver a new piano to the Budell home that very afternoon. And of course, you can’t deliver a piano without testing it out! Prudence arrives home to find Johnny sitting in her parlor, accompanying himself as he sings an aria. She gets his name and hauls Iturbi down to meet him, and Johnny is given a spot in the opera.
But there’s one thing Johnny never mentioned. His old girlfriend, who mistakenly believes she and Johnny are engaged. When Prudence finds out, her feelings are hurt – Johnny’s been serenading her with tender love songs, and she can’t believe he would sing to her while planning to marry someone else. With some help from Iturbi, everything gets straightened out, and we all live happily ever after.
This movie was a great vehicle for Lanza. His voice translates beautifully, as does his personality. He is a good match vocally for Grayson, and we enjoyed every minute of this unrated film.
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