| Life Begins at Eight-Thirty | |
|---|---|
 1942 Theatrical Poster | |
| Directed by | Irving Pichel |
| Written by | Emlyn Williams (play) Nunnally Johnson F. Scott Fitzgerald (uncredited) |
| Produced by | Nunnally Johnson |
| Starring | Monty Woolley Ida Lupino Cornel Wilde |
| Music by | Alfred Newman |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Twentieth Century-Fox |
Release date | December 9, 1942 |
Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Life Begins at Eight-Thirty is a 1942 drama film starring Monty Woolley as a washed-up, alcoholic actor, Ida Lupino as his daughter, and Cornel Wilde as her boyfriend. It is based on the play The Light of Heart by Emlyn Williams.
Synopsis
Kathy lives in a cramped New York flat with her father Madden Thomas, a celebrated actor brought down by drink. Lame from an early age and feeling trapped with her father in her small world, Kathy is delighted to meet fellow tenant Robert. When Madden is offered the lead in a new King Lear and Robert lands a composing job in Hollywood, better times seem for a while to beckon.
Cast
- Monty Woolley as Madden Thomas
- Ida Lupino as Kathy Thomas
- Cornel Wilde as Robert Carter
- Sara Allgood as Alma Lothian
- Melville Cooper as Barty
- J. Edward Bromberg as Sid Gordon
- William Demarest as Police Officer
- Alec Craig as Santa Claus
- Lee Phelps as Bartender
Production notes
The working title of this film was The Light of Heart. F. Scott Fitzgerald worked on the picture's screenplay. The extent of his contribution to the completed film has not been determined, however. Life Begins at Eight-Thirty was the last motion picture writing assignment for Fitzgerald, who died in December 1940. Williams' play was also the basis of a 1961 German film entitled Das Leben beginnt um acht, which was directed by Michael Kehlmann and starred O. E. Hasse and Johanna Matz.