Blues in the Night is a 1941 American musical film noir[1] directed by Anatole Litvak and starring Priscilla Lane, Richard Whorf, Betty Field, Lloyd Nolan, Elia Kazan, and Jack Carson.

The project began filming with the working title Hot Nocturne, the play upon which it is based, but was eventually named after its principal musical number "Blues in the Night", which became a popular hit.

The film was nominated for a Best Song Oscar for "Blues in the Night" (Music by Harold Arlen; lyrics by Johnny Mercer).

They overhear a prisoner singing a blues song and are inspired to set out for New Orleans, where they hope to learn how to perfect an authentic bluesy sound.

But when they don't turn him in to the authorities, Del is so impressed by their camaraderie, he offers them a job in a New Jersey roadhouse called The Jungle.

The group discovers that the roadhouse is actually owned by Del's former partners in crime - aspiring singer Kay, accomplice Sam, and her disabled sidekick Brad.

Del has escaped from jail to retrieve his share of a robbery the three committed; when Kay tells him they have spent all the money, he decides to take over The Jungle and transform it into an illegal gambling club.

Although the band is happy playing their brand of jazz each night at the club, Character is worried about Leo and Kay.

The band shows up; as they angrily assail Jigger with reasons to not leave with Kay, they reveal that Character lost the baby.

[3] James Cagney and Dennis Morgan were the studio's first two choices to play the gangster Del Davis, but the role was eventually given to Lloyd Nolan.

John Garfield was cast in the role of pianist Jigger Pine who was eventually played by Richard Whorf.

[7] Donald Kirkley of The Baltimore Sun called it "a bizarre...screen oddity"[8] while Los Angeles Times film critic Philip K. Scheuer praised Richard Whorf's performance.