An Exercise In Nonsense

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

There's definitely a spark missing from this version of the Thornton Smith story of what happens when a simple mortal (Alan Mowbray) suddenly has the power to turn the human beings who annoy him into statues and bring Greek and Roman gods and goddesses to life. Reminding me of "The Man Who Could Work Miracles", this story shows how Mowbray takes it too far (although I agreed with his choices of whom he turned into marble) and how the Gods try but fail to fit into the modern world. Mowbray is the whole show, zapping people left and right at a society function, then heading off to the Metropolitan Museum of Art where he brings ancient statues back to life and finds that the Gods and Goddesses had their issues of getting along with each other as well. Florence McKinney plays the soft hearted young lady in love with the rambunctious Mowbray, following him like a love lorn unicorn all over Manhattan. The film has its creative moments, but unfortunately, never springs to the full life force it could have been, seemingly missing the zest from Smith's story. Of course, the finale seems inevitable and predictable, but there is some fun along the way. It's a missed opportunity that might have been made more potent by being done as a musical, a la "The Boys From Syracuse" or the Eddie Cantor musical farce "Roman Scandals".

"Night Life of the Gods" is an incredibly strange movie and one you won't forget. In fact, it's so strange that I am amazed it was made in the first place. And, that strangeness alone is clearly enough reason to see the film.The story begins with a crazy rich inventor (Alan Mowbray) working on a very explosive project. In the process, he manages to nearly blow himself up and when he awakens he finds his invention is a rousing success. It seems he has created a magic ring that can turn people into statues as well as turn statues into living, sentient beings! The first thing he does is turn his god-awful and greedy extended family into statues. Then, with help from his lady friend, he goes about turning all the classical statues from a nearby museum into the gods and heroes they were supposed to be. Then, with these ancient weirdos in tow, the guy guys through town having a lot of incredibly strange adventures!!As I said, this one is strange but also creative and enjoyable. While it doesn't always work (it does go on a bit long) the overall film is hard to hate. Worth seeing and 100% unique!

Thorne Smith wrote some of the funniest and most risqué books of the era which my mother introduced her kids to in the 70's. We watched 'I married a Witch' (which is now available on DVD - although I got my copy in Spain several years ago) and my mum told me that she'd seen Topper, Turnabout and that she'd heard that they had may have made Night Life of the Gods. The book rocks which is why I wanted to see the film. The DVD of this movie took me two years to find and was so appalling in quality that I couldn't finish it - and I really did try. even in postage stamp format the picture was bad. Alas, 70 years of culture and a really bad print really mucks things up. This movie had the opportunity to be THE screwball comedy of all time, it had great lines,sex and all in a time of innocence, I really wish I could have seen if the movie had lived up to it. I guess if it had it might not be in such a sorry state.........

A one-of-a-kind comic fantasy from the pen of Thorne Smith, creator of "Topper", this strained whimsy has eccentric playboy Alan Mowbray invent a magic ring that turns people to stone. After rendering his annoying family into marble, he spends the night drinking with leprechauns, and then visits New York's Metropolitan museum, where he throws his ring into reverse and brings to life the statues of ancient Greek gods. Hectic shenanigans ensue when they all check into the Waldorf-Astoria hotel: Bacchus drinks rubbing alcohol, Venus de Milo acquires arms, Neptune starts a slapstick fight in a fish market, and so on. More witty than funny, the movie is afloat with Prohibition-era tipsy jokes, but manages to get an occasional naughty touch past the Hays Code restrictions. Mowbray captures the right energy and manic glint in his eye, and an imperturbable butler wins some laughs, but the others give overly broad performances that are comic, but in the wrong way. At this point in history, the curiosity value and Art Deco sets exceed the entertainment, or maybe they've now become the entertainment.