This Could Be the Night (1957): Cast & Plot
This Could Be the Night is a 1957 comedy drama directed by Robert Wise, starring Jean Simmons as Anne Leeds, Paul Douglas and Anthony Franciosa. It runs 1 hour 43 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 43m (103 min)
- Director
- Robert Wise
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is This Could Be the Night About?
The premise of This Could Be the Night without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Needing extra cash, a prim schoolteacher accepts a secretarial job for the crass owner of a noisy nightclub, unwittingly stepping into the orbit of mobsters. As she juggles her respectable classroom life with the club’s chaotic underworld, she becomes tangled in dangerous, far‑cooked schemes while trying to keep her reputation intact.
This Could Be the Night Themes & Keywords
· 7 tags- school
- job
- wise and simmons
- wise and p. douglas
- nightclub
- reference to casanova
- gangster
This Could Be the Night Cast & Characters
Jean Simmons leads the cast as Anne Leeds, with Paul Douglas as Rocco and Anthony Franciosa as Tony Armotti. Directed by Robert Wise; 24 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Robert Wise
-
Jean Simmons as Anne Leeds - Paul Douglas as Rocco
-
Anthony Franciosa as Tony Armotti -
J. Carrol Naish as Leon
Also Starring in This Could Be the Night
· 20 more- Joan Blondell Crystal St. Clair
- Bess Flowers Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
- Tom Helmore Stowe Devlin
- Frank Ferguson Mr. Shea
- Zasu Pitts Mrs. Shea
- Percy Helton Charlie (uncredited)
- Vaughn Taylor Ziggy Dawit
- Sid Melton Cabbie (uncredited)
- Edna Holland Schoolteacher (uncredited)
- Murvyn Vye Waxie London
- Harry Hines Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
- Rafael Campos Hussein Mohammed
- James Todd Mr. Hallerby
- Chuck Berry Guitarist at Waxie's Club (uncredited)
- Paul Petersen Joey (uncredited)
- Nora Marlowe Mrs. Gretchma (uncredited)
Show all 24 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Neile Adams Patsy St. Clair
- Ray Anthony Themselves
- Julie Wilson Ivy Corlane
- William Joyce Bruce Cameron
More from Robert Wise
More films directed by Robert Wise, best-rated first: The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Sound of Music, The Haunting and The Body Snatcher.
This Could Be the Night Plot Summary
What happens in This Could Be the Night from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Anne Leeds is a school teacher with only four weeks of experience who takes a part-time job as secretary to an ex-bootlegger and horse-playing gambler named Rocco, a Broadway nightclub owner with a heart of gold who quietly harbors a deep affection for her.
Anne finds herself drawn to his younger partner, Tony Armotti, a handsome playboy who fears commitment and the idea of marriage. Tony lives in a walkup apartment above the nightclub, with the stairs to his home tucked away in the alley behind the club, a detail that underscores the rough-edged world in which these lives intersect.
Full summary
The whole story of This Could Be the Night, scene by scene
This Could Be the Night Trailers & Videos
The trailer of This Could Be the Night.
How Well Do You Know This Could Be the Night?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is Anne Leeds's profession before she takes the part-time job at the nightclub?
Seen This Could Be the Night?
Movies Like This Could Be the Night
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including This Is the Night, Night After Night and Night Spot.
This Could Be the Night FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of This Could Be the Night, each answered in a sentence.
How long is This Could Be the Night?
This Could Be the Night runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).
When was This Could Be the Night released?
This Could Be the Night was released on May 14, 1957.
Who directed This Could Be the Night?
This Could Be the Night was directed by Robert Wise.
More films by Robert Wise Who is in the cast of This Could Be the Night?
This Could Be the Night stars Jean Simmons as Anne Leeds, Paul Douglas as Rocco and Anthony Franciosa as Tony Armotti, among 24 credited actors.
Does This Could Be the Night have a post-credit scene?
No. This Could Be the Night has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
