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Title: WHAT A NIGHT!

Reference number: 3806

Date: 1939

Director: filmed by Frank M. Marshall

Sound: silent

Original format: 16mm

Colour: bw

Fiction: fiction

Running time: 11.50 mins

Description: A comedic tale, set in the home of a wealthy family, recounting the events, misfortunes and coincidences of a dark Friday 13th night.

Highly commended by the Amateur Cine Festival.

Credits: cast Reita Smith, C.E. Marshall, Nat McGavin, F.M. Marshall, Muriel and Nairn Marshall

Shotlist: opening credits (0.49) c/u Calendar, Friday 13th; c/u newspaper with headline "Armed Bandit Disappears" servant picks up newspaper; she puts the door on the latch (1.29) servant brings in newspaper; wife reads the news to her husband; c/u article describing a masked raider holding up households; the woman snaps her pearls when surprised by her husband burning his fingers; they hunt for the lost pearls (3.14) A mirror slips off the wall, waking the children; couple look at the broken mirror; servant is sent to fetch a dustpan and brush [making faces] (4.00) exts. clouds pass over the moon; a shadow passes over door (4.09) couple continue picking up the necklace; servant cleans up the mirror, sees a face through the door (4.48) exts. c/u lurker's foot upsetting a plant pot by the door (4.52) couple look out to see a man walk out into the moonlit night; they take their seats in the living room (5.39) children laughing on stairs; servant runs out to meet the strange man by the gate (6.01) couple sit reading; woman becomes upset by the cover of her husband's crime thriller; c/u cover "Hands Up!" (6.28) You're all upset, my dear. I'll get you some aspirin.; children retreat upstairs as father fetches the medicine (7.08) c/u newspaper "Poison Packed as Aspirin warning to the Public"; man picks up bottle, but paper marking it "checked" slips out; man walks downstairs with a glass of water; woman takes medicine (12.16) servant waves to the strange man from the door; she goes into the kitchen and it surprised by a man covering her eyes; she recognises him (9.14) "It's time for the News!" man rises to switch on the radio; he returns to his seat and sees the newspaper; montage of aspirin, newspaper and check slip (10.00) armed man crosses dark corridor; lights are turned off; c/u pistol and torch; c/u radio "Hands Up!" shots of woman and man lit by torch and the fire; c/u radio "Hand Over Your Jewels"; woman pulls off her jewellery, man reaches for a poker and strikes at the intruder (11.07) man finds a toy gun instead; m/s servant and her friend having supper; parents discover that the children are behind the prank; children run up the stairs (11.27) c/u radio That concludes to-night's episode of radio Thriller (11.35) ecs (11.50)