Fine acting by our future president and Viveca Lindfors adds to the drama of this 1949 film.This is one of Reagan's best performances, next to "King's Row," of 1942. As the scientist suffering with epilepsy, who meets a woman (Lindfors) who can't get over her husband's death in World War 11, Ronald Reagan gives a searing performance, as a man hesitant to fall in love with death hanging over his head. Lindfors pulls out all the stops as the grieving widow in this melodrama.In the year that he won the best actor Oscar for "All the King's Men," Broderick Crawford shows up in the film in a supporting role as an artist friendly with the Reagan character. He did not seem comfortable in the part due to his persona of playing tough, gritty individuals in films. His painter role with children married to Rosemary De Camp, just doesn't seem to fit the bill here.There is a terrific supporting performance by Osa Massey as Lindfor's brooding, drunk, and nasty sister. She will stop at nothing to hurt her sister and even say things that could lead to our scientist killing himself.The ending hurricane scene is appropriate for if we can come out of this fierce storm, we can conquer anything. A touching movie not letting a serious illness get in the way of finding true love.

"Night Unto Night" was made in 1947 and was not released until 1949. That is a very bad sign...a sign that the studio thought they had a bomb on their hands. While I would not call this one a bomb, it certainly could have been a lot better...and it's a shame because the acting is really nice in this one...particularly by Ronald Reagan in the lead.When the film begins, John (Reagan) moves to the Florida coast and finds a home to rent. A widow (Viveca Linfors) wants to leave her home...and not for the usual reasons. She thinks the place is haunted and she hears her dead husband's voice there! John thinks this is nutty but is a gentle man and treats her well despite her odd delusion. Eventually the pair fall in love...but he has a secret he broods over...he has epilepsy.The acting and production values are really nice in this one but the film acted like epilepsy is some sort of death sentence...or at least a life destroyer! It certainly isn't and handling the illness this way seemed pretty crass and silly. Overall, some nice moments but the plot just didn't make a lot of sense...and marrying a man who occasionally goes blank (which happens with many types of seizures) is NOT something that destroys your life or makes you destined to be a lonely recluse! The writing sinks this one....and it's a shame as Reagan is at his best in this one. And, I wonder how epileptics felt when they watched this film...as if they were somehow destined for hollow lives because of the disorder!

"Night Unto Night" - really don't understand what the title has to do with the plot, but it sounds nice. Director Siegel does what he can with a very weak script from Kathryn Scola...she must have a writer who helped doctor other scripts. The movie was not long enough to really get such a heavy plot off the ground. Yet, I enjoyed it, after watching "Kings Row" preceding it.......one of TCM's all-day-all-night "tributes" to Ronald Reagan ("John Galen"). "Kings Row" was far better, because Reagan was much younger for that role. Still handsome for "Night," the couple of scenes in which he had a happy demeanor were not strong enough to convince us that his helping a lovelorn lady back to happiness were enough.Viveca Lindfors ("Ann Gracy") was very good in the movie. None of the other commentors mentioned the age-old cure for ALL love-problems is that itself: love. She found it quickly for "Galen", but Reagan didn't have the ability to portray his morbidity and suicidal intentions, although he was in love with her. The house he rented - in which she heard her dead husband's voice, at the beginning - would make almost anyone with neurotic problems quickly descend into deep funk.It didn't help any with nasty vamp Osa Massen ("Lisa") throwing herself at "John", especially she being "Ann's" sister. I liked Broderick Crawford ("C Shawn") as a neighbor-painter; Rosemary DeCamp ("Thalia Shawn") was her usual, complete character. Art Baker ("Dr. Poole"), was on the scene to help "John" with his illness (epilepsy); his role was well-played.The moody cinematography was very appropriate for this intended-to-be dark story....the tale just didn't get dark enough. With what we know now about hurricanes (Southerners have known about them forever), they don't just blow-up all-of-a-sudden. With all the characters - even the kids - assembled for a dinner party, the storm battered the old house right on the seashore. It was also during the storm which "Ann" gives her life-saving love-plea, and "Night Unto Night" quickly ends with the lovers in each others arms. Both cured, I guess....not good, not bad.....gives an older person an indication of Reagan's descent from a robust President of The USA, in real life, into total dotage. Sad.....

Long before Dirty Harry, you can see the excellent film-making, where Ronald Reagan gives what I feel is an excellent performance-not corny, not the "super nice guy" that everyone remembers him by. This is a hard edged film.Broderick Crawford alone should be enough to get you to watch this one, but Vivica Lindfors and others are standout performers. SPOILER: Not to give too much away, but the film starts with Ronald showing up in Florida, to rent a home, so he can deal with his affliction, for which there is no treatment. Meeting Dr. Altheim, his first day there, almost floored me. The name is erie when heard, for me, as Mr. Ragan had just passed away when I saw this film.