Synopsis
A trumpet player in a radio orchestra falls asleep during a commercial and dreams he's Athanael, an angel deputized to blow the Last Trumpet at exactly midnight on Earth, thus marking the end of the world.
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Cast
- Jack BennyAthanael
- Alexis SmithElizabeth
- Dolores MoranViolinist / Fran Blackstone
- Allyn JoslynSecond Trumpeter / Osidro
- Reginald GardinerComposer / Archie Dexter
- Guy KibbeeRadio Director / The Chief
- John AlexanderFirst Trumpeter / Doremus
- Franklin PangbornRadio Engineer / Sloan
- Margaret DumontMme. Traviata / Miss Rodholder
- Robert BlakeJunior Pulplinsky
Recommendations
- 80
The Dissolve
The Horn Blows At Midnight rarely pauses to catch its breath or give audiences time to catch up as it runs its hapless protagonist through a gauntlet of frenzied business and smart comic conceits over the course of its briskly paced 78 minutes. - 75
Chicago Tribune
It's not all that funny -- but fascinating in a weird, knockabout way. [28 Aug 1998, p.O] - 70
Film Threat
The film’s rapid speed and its surplus of memorable supporting players helped to make sense of the absurd story. And if Benny was not ideally suited for the Bob Hope-level of bumbling misadventures or the Harold Lloyd-worthy climax involving a drop from a hotel rooftop, he gamely pushed ahead to keep the comedy at its patently ridiculous level. - 63
Chicago Reader
It's bad, all right, but also weirdly compelling, thanks to some mind-boggling special effects work (check out the celestial chorus in the first reel) and some extremely speedy direction by Raoul Walsh, who seems to have decided that if the jokes weren't good, the least he could do was get through them fast. - 60
TV Guide Magazine
Although Benny used this film as a running gag on his radio show for years (claiming it had ruined his movie career), there are some comic gems here, especially in the smash finale. - 40
Variety
This one is a lightweight comedy that never seems able to make up its mind whether to be fantasy or broad slapstick. There are some good laughs but generally The Horn Blows at Midnight is not solid. - 40
The New York Times
The script is neither satire nor good, fresh, fanciful corn. It is a batch of old-fashioned nonsense put together without distinct charm.
