“A Kiss in the Dark” is a 1949 Warner Bros. film starring David Niven and Jane Wyman. The title sounds like a much more dramatic romance than this movie actually is. It does feature a cute romance between the two leads, but the story isn’t about one magical kiss which makes them fall in love. In fact, it’s exactly the opposite, since Jane Wyman says this line when explaining her theory that love often comes from propinquity, just being together over time, rather than immediate attraction.
If I were to make one general criticism of classic films, it would be that their titles are often misleading, because of how vague or generic they are. It doesn’t diminish the quality of the films, but I always appreciate it when a title tells you a little more than the fact it’s a love story, which could apply to almost any film.
For instance, “A Kiss in the Dark” should have featured something about music in its title, since the story focuses on the experiences of a famous concert pianist. Inadvertently becoming the owner of an apartment house changes this musician’s life, since he is forced to get involved with something besides playing the piano for the first time. This movie explores the struggles successful artists face, presenting poignant truths along with an adorable, heartwarming story.
A Musical Story
Eric Phillips (Niven) is a famous, highly-paid concert pianist. His manager, Peter Danilo (Joseph Buloff), arranges a hectic schedule of constant performing and touring. Danilo also controls Phillips’s business interests, finances, public relations, diet, and basically every other aspect of his life. After performing for 21 years, having begun his career as a child prodigy, Eric is feeling burnt out. When he plays one wrong note in a performance, he temperamentally insists on cancelling his summer tour so he can dedicate more time to practice. Danilo reluctantly humors him, not wanting to lose his valuable commodity altogether.One day, Eric’s practicing is interrupted by a visit from Horace Willoughby (Victor Moore), an eccentric older man who owned the Cleopatra Arms, an apartment house Danilo bought as an investment for the pianist. As the previous landlord and proud custodian of the building, Willoughby refuses to let Eric be an absentee landlord. He insists that the new owner must come over and inspect the premises, and his sincere enthusiasm is too strong for Eric to refuse. At the Cleopatra Arms, Eric tries in vain to convince Mr. Willoughby his job is playing the piano, not fixing up aging apartment buildings. However, the pianist changes his tune when he meets a tenant named Polly Haines (Wyman), a cute model with a spunky personality and great legs. Not all the tenants are as friendly, however; Polly’s next-door neighbor, Mr. Botts (Broderick Crawford), is a disgruntled subletter who works nights and hollers at anyone who makes sound during the day, when he’s trying to sleep.
After a few adventures, Eric decides to focus on being a landlord at the Cleopatra Arms. Much to the delight of Mr. Willoughby and all the friendly tenants, he authorizes and pays for the much-needed repairs, plus some additional improvements. The only troublemaker in the happy family is Botts. Polly devises a plan to get rid of him. She suggests Eric practice his piano at her apartment every day, knowing the loud sound will keep Botts from sleeping. Eric is delighted at the prospect of spending so much time with Polly, so he happily agrees to the idea. With Danilo and Bruce (Wayne Morris), her insurance salesman boyfriend, out of town, Eric and Polly have the chance to spend a lot of time together. Can a pair as unlikely as these two really fall in love?
An Ivory Shell
Eric spends all his time playing the piano or worrying about playing the piano. He’s been playing concerts since the age of six, so he’s missed a lot of life’s simple pleasures. He is afraid to do many things because he must protect his hands from potential injury. Even as a child, he couldn’t enjoy ordinary pastimes like turning cartwheels or enjoying the outdoors. He can’t even eat tasty foods, since Danilo insists he has a nervous stomach which can stand nothing stronger than milk toast. Like so many artists in real life, Eric is practically a slave to his manager, who is taking advantage of his sensitive nature and using his need for time to practice as an excuse for running his life. As a result, Eric has nothing in his life except music. Music is wonderful if one enjoys it. After all, he is sharing his great talent, which he has perfected through a lifetime of hard work, with millions. However, after 21 years of touring the world and spending almost all his time playing the piano, Eric doesn’t have the same passion for music he once had.It wouldn’t be realistic if this movie showed a man like Eric Phillips instantly embracing the opportunity to be the landlord of an apartment building. Why would he want to do that? He’s a concert pianist, albeit a frustrated one, so dealing with tenants, building maintenance, and rooftop gardens is the last thing he wants to do. He is very reluctant to even visit the Cleopatra Arms, but he struggles to express his reticence to do that or anything else, because he’s never had to do anything on his own. Since he’s accustomed to Danilo pushing him around, he goes along with Willoughby, Polly, and others. However, after a series of frustrating events, Eric is at his wits’ end.
When he tries to tell Willoughby he is neither interested nor equipped to run the Cleopatra Arms, the other man’s response is an unusual one. Instead of addressing anything that Eric said, he says, “You’re letting go, Mr. Phillips. Yes, sir, definitely letting go. Hang on, Mr. Phillips. Hang on. ... All over the world, people are hanging from window sills by their fingertips. Sometimes, they let go. Then they’re done for. You’re letting go. ... It’s strain that does it. You hang on, and suddenly the strain becomes too great. Then you let go. And then ... wham. And that’s all. Hang on, Mr. Phillips. Don’t let go.”
Eric reveals he doesn’t have much to hang onto, but he eventually realizes the former landlord knows about more than apartment buildings and taxidermy. This little scene is a very serious moment for comical actor Victor Moore. It’s a touching message, which couldn’t be more relatable today. How many people do you know who seem like they’re always one misfortune away from letting go? Maybe you yourself are experiencing the feeling that life is too much for you. This is a good reminder to not give up.
A Charming Film
Although Eric thinks he is just upset because all he wants to do is practice, which he’s being prevented from doing, the wise Willoughby realizes no one would get so upset about such trivial matters unless he has other problems in his life. By growing to care for Polly, Eric learns to come out of the ivory shell where he has spent his whole life. As a result, he finds more joy in his music than he’s had for years.This movie is a charming film which people of all ages and interests can enjoy. If you appreciate good acting, simple but charming stories, the beauty of mid-century fashion, and traditional romance and marriage, you'll love “A Kiss in the Dark.”
