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Director's Spotlight
Archivist John
Senior Editor
Director's Spotlight: United States
A Deep Dive into the 1928 Vision of A. Edward Sutherland
The thematic gravity of What a Night! (1928) is rooted in the artistic risks taken by A. Edward Sutherland that eventually paid off. Defining a new era of United States artistic expression, it demands to be seen by anyone who cares about the art of film.
In What a Night!, A. Edward Sutherland pushes the boundaries of conventional narrative. The film's unique approach to its subject matter has sparked endless debates and interpretations among cinephiles and critics alike.
The visual language of What a Night! is defined by its use of shadows and framing, a hallmark of A. Edward Sutherland's style. By utilizing a 1928-era palette, the film creates an immersive experience that perfectly complements its Comedy themes.
| Cinematography | Handheld |
| Soundtrack | Minimalist |
| Editing | Slow-Burn |
| Art Direction | Brutalist |
Visualizing the convergence of A. Edward Sutherland's style and the core Comedy narrative.
The daughter of an industrialist, Dorothy Winston, arranges to work on a newspaper in which her father places a substantial amount of advertising, Joe Madison, the reporter son of the paper's editor, offers to show her the ropes. A gunman employed by Mike Corney lands in jail, and Dorothy succeeds in interviewing him, getting him to divulge the whereabouts of a canceled check that will link Corney to Patterson, a corrupt political boss. Dorothy and Joe get the check, and Joe telephones his father to urge him to print an exposé of Patterson. Corney recovers the check, however, and Patterson institutes a damaging libel suit against the paper. Dorothy gets the check back and obtains photographic evidence to further incriminate Patterson and Corney. Dorothy and Joe decide to write the story of their life with each another.
Decades after its release, What a Night! remains a vital piece of the cinematic puzzle. Its influence can be seen in countless modern works, solidifying A. Edward Sutherland's status as a master of the craft in United States and beyond.