Night Unto Night (1949)

A scientist (Ronald Reagan, and very good too) suffering from epilepsy comes to the east coast of Florida to bury himself away from society. But when he meets a young widow (Viveca Lindfors) who is unable to tear herself away from the memory of her late husband, they fall in love. But he doesn't tell her about his illness. The second feature film directed by Don Siegel (INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS) is based on the novel by Philip Wylie (WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE). It explores the how the differences between the atheism of the scientist who believes death is the end and the widow who believes in life after death, especially since her deceased husband has been "communicating" with her. There's also the artist (Broderick Crawford) who represents, if not religion, the spiritual aspect of man's place in the universe. This being a 1940s Warner Brothers film, it's no great surprise to find out what side the film falls in. It's a terrific looking film with a wonderful hulking old mansion right amid the lush palms and fauna on the beach (though it was filmed entirely on a soundstage). Siegel provides a great atmosphere for the story to play out so that the inherent sentiment doesn't drag the story down much. Franz Waxman's moody score is reminiscent of his REBECCA. With Rosemary DeCamp, Craig Stevens, Erskine Sanford, Lillian Yarbo and Osa Massen, who almost steals the movie as Lindfors' bitchy sister.