Though it has remained one of the lesser known thirties screwball comedies, Midnight, written by Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett, is a masterpiece of the genre, full of ascerbic wit, callous observations of the rich at play and delightful romantic charades. Claudette Colbert lands penniless in Paris where she hitches her star to the first wealthy-looking crowd she espies. Moving in on the party of John Barrymore, a charming middle-aged rogue, and his philandering wife, Mary Astor, she sets their marriage rocking. Don Ameche as a wise-cracking cabby heads a rich supporting cast. Critic David Chiercichetti notes, "From its inception, Midnight had every ingredient necessary to make a successful film; the most vital factor, however, was Leisen. His comedic instincts, tempered by taste and discretion, made Midnight the most delectable of screwball comedies."