Main Cast: Marlon Brando, Richard Boone, Rita Moreno, Pamela Franklin, Jess Hahn
Release Year: 1969
Country: US/UK
Run Time: 93 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
A pair of desperate men plan to kidnap a wealthy heiress upon her arrival in France. Bud (Marlon Brando) and Leer (Richard Boone) grab the gorgeous girl (Pamela Franklin) at the airport in Paris. The limousine is driven down a deserted country road where the airplane's stewardess Vi (Rita Moreno) is in on the plan and helps the criminals switch cars. The quartet heads to a remote beach house where the girl's father is contacted with instructions for the payoff. When the girl tries to escape, Bud helps her from being roughed up by Leer, which makes the heroine junkie Vi jealous. Vi's brother Wally (Jess Hahn) goes with to the saloon where the drop-off is scheduled, but Wally is wounded in a gun battle with the bartender. He escapes and gives the money to Leer, who is finished having his sadistic carnal way with the kidnap victim. Bud once again tries to help the girl, and Leer tries to shoot everyone who stands in his way. The feature ends with a hard-to-fathom surprise in this violent story of murder, greed and love of money. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
Review
Often overlooked, this low-key thriller is effective in its own quiet way. Director Hubert Cornfield gives the film a very European feel, making good use of the scenic French locales and stylizing his film in a stylish but never ostentatious manner that allows the story and characters to take center stage. Cornfield's pacing is a bit deliberate at first but he builds tension over time, resulting in a third act that is gripping without having to resort to any hokey dramatic devices. It's also worth noting that Willi Kurant's photography is outstanding, evoking a bleak mood with a minimum of visual artifice. Marlon Brando gives a surprisingly understated performance but puts his trademark 'brooding charisma' to good use, particularly when pitted against fellow crook Richard Boone, who is downright terrifying as a duplicitous, sadistic time bomb of a thug who seems capable of going crazy at any minute. Jess Hahn and Rita Moreno also do fine work as the downtrodden brother/sister criminal partners caught in the middle. The only real quibble one might have with the film is its odd coda, an unusual gambit that won't register well with all viewers and plays in a somewhat dated manner by modern standards. That said, Night Of The Following Day remains a potent and intriguing bit of crime noir that is worth hunting down for film buffs. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide
Bud (Brando) starts to have second thoughts of the ransom when Leer (Boone) starts getting out of control. Bud also has to deal with the lack of courage with the head of the operation and Vi (Moreno) who uses drugs and cannot be trusted.
