Production Night People (film)

1954 cinemascope film title card



gregory peck, buddy ebsen, broderick crawford, , peter van eyck in hospital scene (r2 dvd cinemascope version)



peck, ted avery, crawford, marianne koch shown in front of kaiser wilhelm memorial church in american sector of occupied berlin (r2 dvd cinemascope version)



the screenplay developed under title cannibals, phrase used in dialogue describe kidnappers of corporal leatherby. in july 1953 new york times reported title changed night people avoid audiences anticipating african adventure. title taken property owned fox, science fiction vehicle star richard widmark never produced.
nunnally johnson had been seeking project break directing, , approached darryl f. zanuck direct night people. zanuck amenable, informed him peck had contractual rights veto studio s choice of director , might not want without experience. however, peck , nunnally johnson friends , had worked on gunfighter in 1950, johnson had produced , re-scripted. peck s confidence in him high readily approved him directorial debut.


despite this, rumors published in hollywood reporter in september 1953 2 had feuded. possible source peck s initial doubts johnson s overall abilities, these dissipated , pair worked amicably. had had overcome several squabbles on set fox staffers on costuming , other intrusions. 1 biographer reported peck became angry on 1 dispute channeled anger scene in character rebukes broderick crawford s, , filmed ten pages of script in 2 hours. johnson , peck teamed again in man in gray flannel suit.


the movie s exteriors filmed on location in berlin, while interiors filmed @ geiselgasteig studios in munich on five-week period in summer of 1953, @ cost of $800,000, shot in new wide-screen format of cinemascope. filming made difficult tensions existing in berlin between united states , soviet union. in 1 scene filmed near brandenburg gate realistic props, film crew came under close scrutiny numerous armed russians suspicious of activity.


peck stated role of steve van dyke had been 1 of favorites, because lines tough , crisp , full of wisecracks, , more aggressive other roles d portrayed.
at time movie made, berlin divided city not yet isolated berlin wall of 1961.




^ haney, lynn (2005). gregory peck: charmed life. da capo press. pp. 238–240. isbn 978-0-7867-1656-2. 
^ molyneaux, gerard (1995). gregory peck: bio-bibliography. greenwood press. p. 121. isbn 0-313-28668-x. 
^ fishgall, gary (2002). gregory peck: biography. scribner. p. 178. isbn 0-684-85290-x.