This is basically a story dealing with loving someone for whom they are.Dana Andrews gives another wonderful performance as a blinded pianist who is bitter about his accident that left him like this. By chance, he meets the wealthy Merle Oberon, who falls for his music and pretends to be blind herself.When she sponsors a musical context knowing that he will win, he will have the money to have the surgery. With his sight restored, he doesn't get in touch with her leading her to believe that he is still blind.When the two come together as sighted people,you would think that Andrews would recognize her voice.Oberon does well as the wealthy dowager. Ample support is given by the craggy voiced Ethel Barrymore, her aunt, who plays along in the scheme as well as Hoagy Carmichael, the guy that Andrews lives with.A fine follow up for Andrews after doing such a wonderful job in "The Best Years of Our Lives," the year before.

Thanks to a lovely cast and good direction by John Cromwell, "Night Song," pure hokum from 1947, manages to hold one's interest and be an entertaining film. It's the story of Dan (Dana Andrews), a composer who was blinded after the war and has now given up on life. He plays with his friend's (Hoagy Carmichael) group, and one night, a socialite (Merle Oberon) hears Dan play one of his own compositions and wants to talk with him. She discovers that he's a bitter, unhappy man. She wants to help, so she, too, pretends she's blind and meets him on the beach. She asks him to help her with her piano-playing and urges him to write.There is some wonderful music in this film, played by Artur Rubinstein, and Eugene Ormandy conducts the orchestra. The "Piano Concerto in C Minor" is actually composed by Leith Stevens, and it's quite good. Carmichael shines, singing "Who Killed 'Er" and "One for My Baby." Ethel Barrymore provides fine support as the sarcastic Miss Willey. It's an unusual role for her. Normally, she's a dowager without much sense of humor. Here, she still comes off like a dowager, but her wisecracks are effective nevertheless.There are some major holes in this film - I find Merle Oberon's speaking voice and accent very unique, and I don't know why Dan didn't recognize it immediately when she is introduced as her real self. I also didn't totally buy Dan's reactions at the end; I would have expected him to become quite angry.Still, there's something about "Night Song" that you can't help liking. If you're a fan of Merle Oberon's and/or Dana Andrews, don't miss it. Lucky for me, I love Hoagy Carmichael as well.

The job of a movie is to give the audience members a bigger slice of life than they would normally experience. Night Song, a classic movie of the post-war 1940's, gives that slice of life with rare grace, elegance and style. Critics have panned it because of the "bad" far-fetched plot, the "bad" music, and "bad" acting.I like this movie because, quite coincidentally, I personally have digested many of the slices of life in the "far-fetched" plot. The movie is about a piano player/composer who is struck on the head in the prime of his life. I am a piano player/composer who was struck on the head in the prime of my life. We both made it through a war era untouched, he WWII, and I Vietnam, well almost. He is living hand to mouth with his best friend. I am also living hand to mouth with my best friend, my wife. For those who love far-fetched coincidences: The composer's last name is Evans—my grandfather's name before he changed it. The movie was probably shot in 1946, the year I was born. Exactly 20 years later I saw Artur Rubenstein, who acted and performed in this movie, in a concert at the Music Center in Los Angeles--the only time I ever went to such a concert. It opened in Sweden on my birthday. What could be more far-fetched?. The not so far-fetched plot twists were not lost on me. As I watched, I was saying to myself, "What is possible for me? Miracles happen every day! Every success story was improbable before it happened!" After watching the film, I went over to the piano and played my own unfinished concerto once again! As for the Leith Stevens music, if you didn't like it, say so. If it didn't touch you, say so. I liked it, immensely. It touched me immensely! If you want a thrill, type in Leith Stevens on IMDb. You'll find page after page of musical credits—right up to 2005! The man is a modern master composer played by the greatest performers of that time in this movie! Not bad for "bad" music! The job of film critics is to say what they like and dislike about films and why. They should leave all categorical good and bad thoughts completely out of the conversation.One measure of the talent of an actor, and some say the only measure of a film, is the ability to transport the mind and the spirit of the viewer to another time and place. I was completely transported by this movie. I was perfectly comfortable with ALL the performances, by some of the most distinguished actors of the era, because I was ready, willing and able to be transfixed; and this film is transfixing! Let's get it on DVD!

This was a very outstanding film for viewers who loved Merle Oberon, Dana Andrews, Ethel Barrymore and Hoagy Carmichael during the height of their careers in 1948. In this film, Cathy,(Merle Oberon),"The Broken Melody",'34, a rich woman who falls deeply in love with Dana Andrews,(Dan),"The Best Years of Our Lives",'46, who is blind and is a down and out piano player and composer. Dan has a great pal who is also a musician and they work and live together in a Jazz club and try to make ends meet. Dan's buddy is Hoagy Carmichael,(Chick),"To Have & Have Not",'44 who gives a great supporting role and is quite funny through out the entire picture. There is plenty of Classical music and a great appearance of a famous conductor and pianist. The is lots of romance, drama and comedy and a very unusual ending.