American film noir crime-drama directed by Anatole Litvak and produced by RKO Pictures. It is a remake of Le Jour Se Lève (1939) by Marcel Carné. The drama stars Henry Fonda, Barbara Bel Geddes, Vincent Price and Ann Dvorak. The title of the original French film is an idiom which translates roughly as "dawn is breaking.” Shortly after a violent encounter with magician Maximilian (Vincent Price), Joe Adams (Henry Fonda) is shot by police. As he lies dying in his apartment, he reflects on his past. The flashbacks follow Joe as he falls in love with young Jo Ann (Barbara Bel Geddes), who is also being courted by Maximilian. The Long Night was the first screen appearance by character actress Barbara Bel Geddes ( she is well remembered for her work in the series Dallas) and it served as a springboard for Bel Geddes's career. RKO signed Bel Geddes to a seven-year contract.