Night into Morning

A distant boom momentarily disturbs Professor Ainley's English class - in fact, the sound of a boiler exploding in the professor's house, killing his wife and son. The film charts the bereaved man's progress from bewildered rage to, finally, a sort of acceptance. Low key, naturalistic, never descending into melodrama, the film seems tangibly to embody somebody or other's - one of the writers? - lived experience. Despite a zero reputation and a scarcely thrilling cast and credits, this is well worth seeking out, a fine example of the offbeat stuff coming out of MGM during Dore Schary's too brief tenure.