Ford Theater 49 03 04 The Horn Blows At Midnight
This is the radio version of The Horn Blows at Midnight, starring Jack Benny, and Claude Rains. Jack, playing a minor angel named Athanael, is given the task of going to Earth and blowing a trumpet at midnight to signal the end of the world.
This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.
Chapters
| The Horn Blows At Midnight | 59:26 |
Reviews
An interesting variation
VR5
"The Horn Blows at Midnight" was Jack Benny's final film, a lavish screwball comedy about an angel who was given the task of blowing a horn which signaled the end of the Earth. Released at the end of WWII and eight days after the death of FDR, the film's subject matter was deemed somewhat controversial at the time and it was not the resounding hit that WB hoped for, though the studio did manage to make its money back. Benny, however, joked about the film's lack of success so often that it's now remembered as being a dismal failure. If that were true, it wouldn't have been adapted for radio and television (Benny again reprised the role in a TV adaptation on an episode of "Omnibus"). The radio adaptation bears only a slight resemblance to the film, which was bookended with scenes of Benny as a member of a radio orchestra who fell asleep and had this fantastical dream. That aspect is removed, along with all of the movie's antagonist characters (fallen angels, crooks, the house detective, a restaurant owner, a gaggle of kids, etc.) and some of the film's big gags (Paradise coffee, the missing elevator, etc.). In this version, Athaniel comes to then-modern day NYC and interacts with a variety of people who tug at his heartstrings and prompt him to convince the Chief that the Earth is worth saving. In addition to the two credited actors, Mel Blanc appears as the newspaper man and Bea Benaderet plays Mrs. Watson (utilizing the same voice she used for her Granny character in the Looney Tunes shorts). It's great that stuff like this has survived, and this show makes a nice companion to the film.
Prefer RADIO version to FILM
CubanBach
I happen to have heard the radio version of the story on SiriusXM a while back. Having never been interested in watching the film, I was ever so pleasantly surprised at the lovely story I heard on radio. Expecting the movie to be the same story, I was shocked to realize that the film bore no resemblance to this charming story. Whoever reworked it, sure knew how to tug at my heart. Perhaps sentimentality was never Jack Benny's forte, so I am glad he did not make the radio version into a movie. (If that makes sense at all!)
Bea Benaderet
sbd367
does NOT play Mrs. Watson; another actress is credited at the end for this part. It is Jane Morgan who played on our Miss Brooks.
When Comedy Was Funny
BCG
Excellent example of real comedy talent without having to resort to cheap vulgarity.