Volo notturno

I fell in love with black and white films of the '30s and '40s when I was a young teenager, and I always remembered Fly by Night as one of my favorites. For years I couldn't find it, and I was so happy to discover it this weekend again. I'm a bit more discerning than I was at 10 or 11 (at least of old movies), so I recognize now that it's not Hitchcock-caliber. But I still found it delightful. Richard Carlson and Nancy Kelly are wonderfully matched. There is just the right amount of light tension, lots of action, and throughout, after the first scene, humor and sophistication and unexpected fun. I must say, this is in no way a film noir! It has none of the elements of noir --- no antihero with moral qualms, no "bad girl," and especially because it's much too lighthearted (the music with the ending credits makes that clear, if you aren't sure!). I've seen it referred to as a screwball comedy-mystery, but I wouldn't call it that, either. It's not screwball, just fun with mystery and actors who can pull it off. It's a frothy concoction, a cocktail with a scoop of ice cream and unexpected lingering flavors. (I couldn't otherwise have remembered it for decades!) It's an original.