Jean Arthur plays a woman married to an insanely jealous rich man (Colin Clive). He is very controlling and dangerous--and, not surprisingly, she leaves him and obtains a divorce. But Clive is not about to let her go and has her stalked by private detectives and plots to get her back. During this time, Arthur meets a very suave man (Charles Boyer) and they fall almost instantly in love. But, Clive isn't about to let her remarry and he murders a man and makes it appear as if his ex-wife's new love is responsible! To keep Boyer from going to jail, she agrees to return to Clive--even though she's miserable and he is just plain nuts...and rather evil. Is there any hope for the lovers? Will the truth ever come out? Now all this sounds like a murder mystery, and this is PART of the film but mostly it's a very stylish romance. The romantic portions of the film are its best--and despite the odd casting of the two as lovers, it does work very well. What doesn't work quite as well is the ending--which is almost like a replication of the Titanic disaster. But, despite the shortcomings, the overall picture is quite charming and well worth your time. Boyer was great in films like this and "Love Affair" and it didn't hurt that Clive played a wonderful slime-ball and Leo Carillo provided some good support. Well worth seeing.

The obsessive and jealous shipowner Bruce Vail (Colin Clive) does not accept the divorce his wife Irene Vail (Jean Arthur) achieved in London, and he hires his driver Michael Browsky (Ivan Lebedeff) to forge adultery with Irene in Paris to make the decree null. However, she is rescued by the headwaiter Paul Dumond (Charles Boyer), who punches Michael and locks Bruce and his private eyes in a locker, and they spend a wonderful night together in the restaurant Château Bleu, where Paul and his best friend Chef Cesare (Leo Carrillo) work, and they fall in love for each other. Meanwhile, Bruce kills Michael and blackmails Irene, blaming Paul and forcing her to return with him to New York. But Paul does not give up on Irene, and moves to New York with Cesare trying to find her love. They meet each other, but things get complicated when an innocent is arrested accused of murdering the driver."History is Made at Night" is a dated melodrama, but extremely romantic. Jean Arthur and Charles Boyer show an amazing chemistry in this delightful romance. The friendship of Cesare and Paul is quite unbelievable in the present days, but gives the funniest moments in this film. Colin Clive performs an obsessive and totally insane villain, with his sick jealousy. But in the end, love wins for the pleasure of the romantic viewers. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "A História Começou A Noite" ("The History Has Begun at Night")Note: On 05 March 2012 I saw this film again.

Frank Borzage couldn't decide what he wanted to make: a light comedy,a thriller,a romance,even an epic!It's an entertaining work ,but it is not in the same league as his masterpieces:"mortal storm" "three comrades" "strange cargo" "little man what now?" "moonrise" " a farewell to arms" "the river" "no greater glory" etc .Borzage's interest in Europa -which made him one of the first directors to feel the rise of Nazism- shows in the first part which takes place in France.One should notice that his France (French's honor!) is not devoid of the usual clichés: Boyer portrays a Latin lover type, part time waiter ,part time gentleman Cambrioleur ,in the Arsene Lupin tradition,and he treats Irene (Arthur) to a delicious gourmet meal (everyone is a gourmet in France) complete with vintage Champagne,Salade Chiffonnade (sic) and Lobster Cesare ....Boyer's ventriloquist act is quite successful,although that talent of his is of no use in the rest of the film.Bruce's character verges on madness ,his jealousy knows no bounds .When he appears the light comedy turns into thriller.But it's the last part of the film which perplexes the viewer.It's so unexpected it seems we are in another movie.When the luxury liner crashes into an iceberg (you read well) ,Borzage makes "History...." a "Titanic" in miniature complete with "women and children first!" "nearer to thee my God" and harrowing separations.And I will not mention the happy end which comes at the most awkward moment."History..." lacks unity,cohesion;by no means boring ,it cannot hold a candle to Frank Borzage 's great works which I mention above.

When I wash up on that proverbial desert island with little more than a generator, a VCR (or DVD player) and a TV, I want "History is Made at Night" among the 10 films in my possession.Someone -- film critic Myron Meisel, I think -- once described this as the most romantic film ever shot in the English language, and I completely agree.The plot turns on some of the creakiest story points ever conceived. But no matter, because the leads are so appealing, the look of the film so overwhelmingly romantic (Borzage at his best) and the score is so warm and appropriate, that "HIMAN" is just irresistible.