The Big Night (1951 film)

The Big Night
Theatrical release lobby card
Directed byJoseph Losey
Screenplay byJoseph Losey
Stanley Ellin
Hugo Butler
Ring Lardner, Jr.
Based onthe novel Dreadful Summit
by Stanley Ellin
Produced byPhilip A. Waxman
StarringJohn Barrymore, Jr.
Preston Foster
Joan Lorring
CinematographyHal Mohr
Edited byEdward Mann
Music byLyn Murray
Production
company
Philip A. Waxman Productions
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • November 1, 1951 (1951-11-01) (Los Angeles)
Running time
75 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$300,000

The Big Night is a 1951 American film noir directed by Joseph Losey and starring Preston Foster, Joan Lorring and John Drew Barrymore (billed as John Barrymore, Jr.) in his first starring role. The film is based on a script written by Joseph Losey and Stanley Ellin, based on Ellin's 1948 novel Dreadful Summit. Hugo Butler and Ring Lardner Jr. also contributed to the screenplay, but both men were admitted communists, and following Lardner's conviction for contempt of Congress, they were uncredited when the film was first released.