如果你正在犹豫要不要看，我可以告诉你：这部1957年的《午夜故事》是一部典型的黑色电影，导演佩夫尼用冷峻的黑白镜头把夜色里的阴谋拍得密不透风。适合能接受慢热、偏爱人物心理而不是单纯破案的观众看——看完大概会夜里爬起来喝杯水，盯着窗外发会儿呆。玛丽莎·帕文出现时只有三场戏，但她靠在门框上轻声说“我信你”那一刻，整部电影的寒意突然化成了暖流。剧情没有大起大落，却像一根细细的针，慢慢扎进你对“错过”的遗憾里。剧情不靠反转刺激，而是像剥洋葱一样层层揭开小镇居民藏在友善面具下的秘密——对比同类片里“硬汉破案”的爽利，这部片子更耐得住琢磨。玛丽莎·帕文饰演的西班牙裔女子，眼神里的戒备和脆弱都藏在日常对话里，值得细品。

Beloved priest Father Thomasino is murdered in a San Francisco alley, and the police have few clues. But traffic cop Joe Martini becomes obsessed with finding the killer; he suspects Sylvio Malatesta. Ordered off the case, Joe turns in his badge and investigates alone. Soon he is a close friend of the Malatesta family, all delightful people, especially lovely cousin Anna. Uncertain whether Sylvio is guilty or innocent, Joe is now torn between old and new loyalties. Written by Rod Crawford