Night Watch
Film poster
Directed by	Alexander Korda
Written by	Lajos Bíró (continuity) Dwinelle Benthall (titles) Rufus McCosh (titles)
Based on	'In the Night Watch 1921 play by Michael Morton Veille d'Armes 1917 play by Claude Farrère and Lucien Nepoty
Produced by	Ned Marin
Starring	Billie Dove Paul Lukas Donald Reed Nicholas Soussanin
Cinematography	Karl Struss
Edited by	George McGuire
Music by	Emil Bierman Mortimer Wilson
Production company	First National Pictures
Distributed by	First National Pictures[1] Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date	September 9, 1928 (1928-09-09) (US)
Running time	72 minutes[1]
Country	United States
Languages	Silent English intertitles

Night Watch is a 1928 American drama film directed by Alexander Korda and starring Billie Dove, Paul Lukas and Donald Reed. It was an adaptation of the dramatic 1921 play In the Night Watch, written by Michael Morton. The film is set almost entirely on a French warship at the beginning of the First World War.^[2] Although largely a silent film, Night Watch was the first of Korda's films to feature sound effects and music but no dialogue from Vitaphone.^[2][3]

Plot

On the night of August 1, 1914, Commander Corlaix of the French Navy and his wife, Yvonne, arrange a shipboard dinner for the officers of his cruiser. Afterward, Lieutenant D'Artelle asks Yvonne to stay on board with him, and when Corlaix (learning by classified wireless that war has been declared) abruptly orders her from the ship, she goes instead with D'Artelle to his cabin. The ship is sunk by a torpedo, and Corlaix is brought before the Admiralty Court on charges of incompetence. Yvonne comes forward to testify and, by compromising herself, proves her husband's adherence to duty. Corlaix, realizing Yvonne's great love for him, forgives her for her indiscretions, and they are reunited.

Cast

• Billie Dove as Yvonne Corlaix
• Paul Lukas as Captain Corlaix
• Donald Reed as Lieutenant D'Artelle
• Nicholas Soussanin as Officer Brambourg
• Nicholas Bela as Leduc
• George Periolat as Fargasson
• William H. Tooker as Mobrayne
• Gusztáv Pártos as Dagorne
• Anita Garvin as Ann

Preservation status

A print of Night Watch is preserved at Cineteca Italiana in Milan.^[4]