supper club where MacMurray takes Stanwyck for dinner, the song "Easy Living" plays, and when Stanwyck gives a false name to a justice of the peace, she uses "Mary Smith", the name of Jean Arthur's character in Easy Living. Leisen's script alterations shifted the film's focus from MacMurray's character to that of Stanwyck. They also changed the character of Jack in line with MacMurray's strengths; in Sturges' original screenplay, the lawyer was a dashing, articulate and slightly theatrical character, but Leisen felt that MacMurray did not possess the verbal abilities needed for the heroic speeches assigned to his character. Instead, Leisen cut much of the dialogue and focused on MacMurray's quiet strength. Sturges summarized the film by saying, "Love reformed her and corrupted him." The film, he said, "... had quite a lot of schmaltz [sentiment], a good dose of schmerz [pain, grief] and just enough schmutz [dirt] to make it box office." During shooting, Sturges was present on set and came to know Barbara Stanwyck. One day, he told her that he was going to write a screwball comedy for her, which came just a year later, The Lady Eve. Stanwyck later recalled that she did not initially believe Sturges' promise, as she was primarily a dramatic actress known for playing fallen women and femmes fatales. Remember the Night was in production from July 27 to September 8, 1939. It was completed eight days ahead of schedule and $50,000 under budget, which Leisen attributed to Stanwyck's professionalism, saying "She never blew one line through the whole picture. She set that kind of pace and everybody worked harder, trying to outdo her." Remember the Night was the first film pairing of MacMurray and Stanwyck; they later co-starred in Double Indemnity (1944), The Moonlighter (1953) and There's Always Tomorrow (1956). Stanwyck was to make a romantic film with Joel McCrea following the completion of Remember the Night, but she came down with a serious eye infection and had to withdraw from the project. Willard Robertson plays Francis X. O'Leary, Lee's flamboyant lawyer who is said to be a former actor. Robertson was actually a former lawyer in Texas who had turned to acting. Reception The theatrical release was well-received. The New York Times reviewer Frank S. Nugent wrote: It is a memorable film, in title and in quality, blessed with an honest script, good direction and sound performances ... a drama