Tender Is the Night (film)

Tender Is the Night is a 1962 film directed by Henry King and starring Jennifer Jones and Jason Robards. King's last film, it is based on the novel of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Tender Is the Night
Original lobby card
Directed byHenry King
Produced byHenry T. Weinstein
Written byIvan Moffat
Based onTender Is the Night
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
StarringJennifer Jones
Jason Robards
Joan Fontaine
Tom Ewell
Cesare Danova
Music byBernard Herrmann
CinematographyLeon Shamroy
Edited byWilliam H. Reynolds
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • January 19, 1962 (1962-01-19)
Running time
142 minutes (132 minutes - FMC Library Print)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3.9 million[1]
Box office$1.25 million (US/ Canada)[2]

The soundtrack featured a song, also called "Tender Is the Night", by Sammy Fain (music) and Paul Francis Webster (lyrics), which was nominated for the 1962 Academy Award for Best Song. Robards won the 1962 NBR Award for his performances in Tender Is the Night and Long Day's Journey Into Night.

King's previous film had been Beloved Infidel, a biographical drama about Fitzgerald, author of Tender Is the Night.

There are interesting backstage anecdotes about pre-production in Memo from David O. Selznick, an edited collection of the iconic producer's letters and notes. Selznick's then-wife was sought and cast as the film's lead, and his letters reflect insight into the casting process (Jane Fonda had wanted to play Rosemary; William Holden, Henry Fonda and Christopher Plummer were considered for Dick), the creative angst around the project, and Selznick's own clever insights into the source novel and its requirements to become a successful film property.

Plot summary

While at a party in the south of France, Nicole Diver, a woman with many emotional issues, sees her husband, Dr. Dick Diver, take an interest in an American movie starlet, Rosemary Hoyt. Jealousy gets the better of Nicole.

The story flashes back to how Dick and Nicole met. He was a distinguished psychiatrist who made the classic mistake of falling in love with a patient, Nicole Warren. He marries her despite warnings from his mentor, Dr. Dohmler, that it will ruin Dick's career.

Dick spends the next years of his life abandoning his work to indulge wife Nicole's many whims, leading a hedonistic life, paid for by Nicole's sophisticated sister, Baby. By the time he realizes the error of his ways and attempts to resume his career, it is Nicole who has found a new lover, and she wants a divorce.

Cast
  • Jennifer Jones as Nicole Diver
  • Jason Robards as Dr. Dick Diver
  • Joan Fontaine as Baby Warren
  • Tom Ewell as Abe North
  • Cesare Danova as Tommy Barban
  • Jill St. John as Rosemary Hoyt
  • Paul Lukas as Doctor Dohmler
  • Bea Benaderet as Mrs. McKisco
  • Charles E. Fredericks as Mr. McKisco
  • Sanford Meisner as Doctor Gregorovious
  • Mac McWhorter as Colis Clay
  • Albert Carrier as Louis
  • Richard de Combray as Francisco
  • Carole Mathews as Mrs. Hoyt
  • Alan Napier as Pardo
  • Leslie Farrell as Topsy Diver
  • Michael Crisalli as Lanier Diver
  • Earl Grant as Piano Player
  • Katherine Berger as Nurse
  • Jean Bori as Barber
  • Maggi Brown as Bit Part
  • Arlette Clark as Governess
  • George Clark as Young Roman Aristocrat
  • Con Covert as Female Impersonator
  • Maurice Dallimore as Sir Charles Golding
  • Jean De Briac as Dr. Faurore
  • Marcel De la Brosse as Proprietor
  • Bruno Della Santina as Reception Clerk
  • Vera de Winter as Nurse
  • Nora Evans as Singer
  • Eric Feldary as Headwaiter
  • Jacques Gallo as Gendarme
  • Renee Godfrey as Nurse
  • Tom Hernández as Nobleman
  • Linda Hutchins as Bit Part
  • Michael Korda as Italian Gentleman
  • Joseph La Cava as Bartender
  • Armand Largo as Reporter
  • Louis Mercier as Concierge
  • Gilbert Paol as Maitre d'Hotel
  • Carl Princi as Assistant Manager
  • John Richardson as Young man
  • Art Salter as Photographer
  • Orrin Tucker as Musician
  • Carol Veazie as Mrs. Dumphrey
  • Florene Williams as Girl

Soundtracks

The film score was composed by Bernard Herrmann. Soundtracks included the main theme "Tender Is the Night" composed by Sammy Fain with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster (above). This song was played in the film by pianist George Greeley (uncredited). Other songs were:

See also

References
  1. Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1. p253
  2. Solomon p 229. Please note these figures are rentals.
  3. Tender is the Night, Soundtracks
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