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IMDbPro

Tonight or Never

  • 19311931
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Tonight or Never (1931)
ComedyRomance
A young opera singer finds her career stalled because of her cold and passionless performances, until she finds romance with a handsome admirer.A young opera singer finds her career stalled because of her cold and passionless performances, until she finds romance with a handsome admirer.A young opera singer finds her career stalled because of her cold and passionless performances, until she finds romance with a handsome admirer.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
    • Mervyn LeRoy
  • Writers
    • Fanny Hatton(adaptation)
    • Frederic Hatton(adaptation)
    • Lily Hatvany(play)
  • Stars
    • Gloria Swanson
    • Melvyn Douglas
    • Alison Skipworth
    • Mervyn LeRoy
  • Writers
    • Fanny Hatton(adaptation)
    • Frederic Hatton(adaptation)
    • Lily Hatvany(play)
  • Stars
    • Gloria Swanson
    • Melvyn Douglas
    • Alison Skipworth
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 14User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos10

    Melvyn Douglas and Gloria Swanson in Tonight or Never (1931)
    Gloria Swanson in Tonight or Never (1931)
    Gloria Swanson in Tonight or Never (1931)
    Melvyn Douglas and Gloria Swanson in Tonight or Never (1931)
    Melvyn Douglas and Gloria Swanson in Tonight or Never (1931)
    Melvyn Douglas and Gloria Swanson in Tonight or Never (1931)
    Gloria Swanson in Tonight or Never (1931)
    Gloria Swanson in Tonight or Never (1931)
    Gloria Swanson in Tonight or Never (1931)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gloria Swanson
    Gloria Swanson
    • Nella Vago
    Melvyn Douglas
    Melvyn Douglas
    • Jim Fletcher
    Alison Skipworth
    Alison Skipworth
    • Marchesa Bianca San Giovanni
    Ferdinand Gottschalk
    Ferdinand Gottschalk
    • Rudig
    Robert Greig
    Robert Greig
    • Conrad
    Warburton Gamble
    Warburton Gamble
    • Count Albert von Gronac
    Greta Meyer
    Greta Meyer
    • Emma
    Boris Karloff
    Boris Karloff
    • Waiter
    Geraldine Dvorak
    Geraldine Dvorak
    • Maida Linden
    • (uncredited)
    Eric Mayne
    Eric Mayne
    • Admirer
    • (uncredited)
    J. Carrol Naish
    J. Carrol Naish
    • Radio Announcer
    • (uncredited)
      • Mervyn LeRoy
    • Writers
      • Fanny Hatton(adaptation)
      • Frederic Hatton(adaptation)
      • Lily Hatvany(play)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film marks the screen debut of Melvyn Douglas.
    • Goofs
      When Fletcher returns back to Vago's window with a flower; he stands in the middle of a circle of smoked cigarettes he discarded earlier. However when he throws the flower up through the window of her room which is a long shot; he is standing outside the circle of cigarettes.
    • Quotes

      Marchesa Bianca San Giovanni: And that is just the trouble, it is nothing but an organ. It is as cold and as passionless as one of these American iceboxes. Let me tell you a secret; no woman can ever be a great artist without love, without passion, without a great inside flame in her heart. If she were really an artist, she would sing with more than her voice, she would sing with her heart and her soul and her body. I did!

    • Connections
      Featured in Boulevard! A Hollywood Story (2021)

    User reviews14

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    watch it for the actors in it.
    A thirty two year old gloria swanson is nella, opera diva, in this restored version of "tonight or never". She has caught the eye of a handsome stranger (melvyn douglas), but she believes he is a gigolo. He has been spotted on the arm of an older, rich woman (the awesome alison skipworth). Nella is headstrong and impulsive, but she has never known true love; her teacher informs her that until she has really loved someone, she won't be able to put that passion into her singing. But when she finally meets fletcher, it doesn't go anything like she expected. And now she's not sure if she wants a husband or a singing career. Just one of many decisions she may have to make. If she plays her cards right! The film itself is no big deal, but it's fun to see skipworth, douglas, and swanson in an early (pre film code) talkie. Swanson was huge, starting in the silent films. She makes a lot of the same facial expressions she will use again in sunset boulevard, another great swanson film. Small role for boris karloff. Directed by mervyn leroy... was nominated for random harvest. Story by lily hatvany.
    helpful•0
    0
    • ksf-2
    • Nov 19, 2022

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 29, 1932 (United Kingdom)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
      • United Artists Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • The Samuel Goldwyn Company
      • Feature Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 20 minutes
      • Black and White
      • Mono

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