A Kiss in the Dark (1949)

David Niven in any romantic comedy is bound to be good. Jane Wyman is a photographer's model. Niven is a concert pianist. He makes a mistake in a major concert and decides to cancel his engagements for the rest of the summer so he can practice even more. But he is exhausted and disillusioned - and wealthy. His manager/investment advisor buys an apartment house for him. Victor Moore comes to his house as a new employee, who previously owned the apartment house. He looks at the tenants as family and is afraid that Niven will tear down the apartment. He presents Niven with an arrest warrant for neglected upkeep. They visit the apartment where they meet Broderick Crawford, grouchy because he works at night and cannot sleep in the day because of the noise. He also meets Wyman in the hall. Crawford comes out complaining about the noise and punches Niven. Wayne Morris comes in. He is a ex-football star insurance salesman who is her boyfriend. He is jealous until she mentions that he ought to sell Niven insurance on his hands.

Niven has been captivated by Wyman and decides that he needs to give the apartment house all his attention. He goes back to the apartment and she assembles all the tenants on the roof to discuss all the improvement projects they have in mind. He gets upset and vents to Moore, who says he is hanging on from the stress. The kids have a hike planned, and Niven is appointed the substitute leader. He appears inept and ignorant of outdoor lore. He has a sardine and peanut butter sandwich for lunch. He gets indignant because she has no respect for his music, and in the course of his rant steps in the animal snare the boys made. When they get back to the apartment, the inspector is there, and gives Niven a summons. He stalks out saying he is through with the apartment. The next day Wyman chews out Niven because he fired Moore, and gives a scathing critique of his personality. He reverses his decision and re-hires Moore, and tells him to proceed with redecorating the apartment. Crawford grouses again, but Wyman suggests that Niven do his practicing at the apartment building to run off Crawford. Crawford corners Niven at the door of the building, but steps on a rollerskate.

Wyman is growing to like Niven's playing - and Niven. However, Morris still stands in the way. His manager discovers that he is spending all his time at the apartment. Wyman and Niven go to visit an elderly woman friend of his, who was a famous pianist. She laments that she was a slave to music, and woke up one day to discover she was a lonely old woman. She tells Wyman to introduce Niven to her world. She takes him to a night club where they play loud jazz. He suffers through it. When they get back to the apartment there is a couple in a car kissing good night. He finally kisses her, but the manager breaks it up. Moore tells her that she is in love with him.

Crawford finally moves out, but Morris gets mad. He goes to where Wyman is posing, but Moore persuades him that Wyman is still only trying to land the insurance policy. Niven destroys the photography set when he comes in, but the photographer is so impressed with his music that he does not care. They get a call from the manager that Morris is on the way, but Niven does not care. He starts taking swings at Morris, but only manages to knock out Wyman. Morris tells him that Wyman was only stringing him along to sell him insurance. Niven is crushed. Wyman tries to call him, but the manager cuts off the calls. He tells Niven that Morris and Wyman are to be married, and that they need to start another tour. Morris tells Wyman that Niven might get hurt if the insurance contract does not go through.

Niven discovers he has left some music at the apartment, so he goes back to get it. He meets Wyman wrapped in a towel and tells her goodbye. As he tries to leave, he discovers that Moore has removed the door knob. They fight, but she exposes his manager's duplicity. And then they leave together, with the apartment residents flocking behind. At the train station Niven signs the contract and then tells Morris that they are married, then punches Morris and the manager.




Niven and Wyman


Moore