
Day for Night
1973, Comedy/Drama, 2h 0m
39 Reviews 5,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
A sweet counterpoint to Godard's Contempt, Truffaut's Day for Night is a congenial tribute to the self-afflicted madness that is making a movie. Read critic reviews
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Day for Night Photos
Movie Info
A film director (François Truffaut) tries to get his movie made while observing the real-life dramas in his actors' lives. Fading icon Severine (Valentina Cortese) forgets her lines when she drinks, while her co-star, Alexandre (Jean-Pierre Aumont), is fixated on his lover's imminent arrival. Meanwhile, insecure young star Alphonse (Jean-Pierre Léaud) has emotional outbursts, yet seems well-balanced compared to Julie (Jacqueline Bisset), a British actress recuperating from a nervous breakdown.
Cast & Crew
Jacqueline Bisset
Julie
Julie
François Truffaut
Director Ferrand
Director Ferrand
Jean-Pierre Aumont
Alexandre
Alexandre
Jean-Pierre Léaud
Alphonse
Alphonse
Valentina Cortese
Severine
Severine
Alexandra Stewart
Stacey
Stacey
Critic Reviews for Day for Night
Audience Reviews for Day for Night
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May 01, 2016Considered one of Truffaut's finest films and an homage to the filmmaking process, this movie is about a French cast and crew in the process of making a movie. There are a number of smaller stories with the people involved as they reveal themselves through the shoot, and the movie highlights the difficulties from a director's point of view - time pressure, various idiosyncrasies of the actors, and the complexities of getting shots just right. Truffaut himself played the director, which was interesting to see and think about (you know, directing himself directing). The movie was reasonably good and it held my interest, but it was not great, because the behind-the-scenes action was less interesting to me. Maybe some of that is because the behind-the-scenes aspects have had more exposure since 1973 when the film was made, and it was more of a novelty then. I have to also say that with the exception of Nathalie Baye, I didn't care all that much about the cast and characters, which was probably also part of the problem. Worth watching though.Antonius B Super Reviewer
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Sep 30, 2015Day for Night is fine if viewed with modest expectations. As a comedy, it is amusing. As art, it is mildly interesting. As a film, it comes off as dated and uncinematic with no particularly strong performances. Still, chances are that if you were lead to this page then you're not going to regret giving Day for Night a look.Robert B Super Reviewer
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Jul 25, 2013It's very interesting that the English release of this film was not a direct translation of the French title which would have been "The American Night" Truffaut brings a nice mix of humour into yet another film about film making.John B Super Reviewer
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Jul 06, 2012A great view about the charm, conflict, love, family and life in cinema. A cinematography poem to the artists of the seventh art. A better and more serious version of 'Noises Off' with very good actings of all the cast. Fresh.Lucas M Super Reviewer
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