History Is Made at Night (The Criterion Collection) [DVD]

History Is Made at Night from The Criterion Collection is a romantic drama directed by Frank Borzage, presented on DVD with a selection of film-related supplements. Its story follows an American woman on the run who falls for a stranger while facing danger across Europe.

At a glance

The film moves between romantic comedy, melodrama, noir, and disaster-thriller elements, according to the listing.
Special features include a conversation with Hervé Dumont and Peter Cowie, an interview with critic Farran Smith Nehme, and a program about the restoration.
Additional material listed includes audio excerpts from an interview with Borzage and a 1940 radio adaptation.

Price

$14.98Save 50%

Reference price: ~~$29.95~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

A single DVD includes the feature film and several film-history and restoration supplements.
The listed runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes makes the feature length clear for planning a viewing.

Technical specifications

12 specifications

Disc and film
Format	DVD, NTSC
Genre	Comedy, Drama
Runtime	1 hour and 37 minutes
Language	English
Rating	NR (Not Rated)
Number of discs	1
Director	Frank Borzage
Actors	Charles Boyer, Colin Clive, Ivan Lebedeff, Jean Arthur, Leo Carrillo
Release date	April 13, 2021

Dimensions and installation
Dimensions listed	0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.72 ounces

Product identification
Model number	D3239D
Studio	The Criterion Collection

What to know before buying

Listing details to confirm

The description identifies a new 2K digital restoration, while another listing section calls it a new, restored 4K digital transfer. The restoration specification is therefore contradictory in the listing. The description also lists English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing and an essay by Dan Callahan, while the shorter special-features list omits those items. Confirm the edition details if these specifics matter.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Viewers interested in classic Hollywood romance and Frank Borzage’s films.
Criterion DVD collectors looking for a release with interviews, restoration material, and a radio adaptation.

Less suited to

Buyers specifically seeking a Blu-ray or 4K UHD edition rather than DVD.

History Is Made at Night (The Criterion Collection) [DVD] · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.6 / 5 · 105 ratings

5 stars75%75%
4 stars16%16%
3 stars6%6%
2 stars0%0%
1 star3%3%

Customer feedback highlights the film’s perceived quality and romantic appeal, including praise for the chemistry between Jean Arthur and Charles Boyer. This aligns with the listing’s description of a romance, though these comments reflect customer impressions rather than a technical assessment of the DVD. The overall rating distribution is mostly five-star, with a smaller share of lower ratings, so responses are not uniformly positive.

Positive themes

Customers praise the film’s quality and romantic elements.
One customer highlights the chemistry between Jean Arthur and Charles Boyer.

Frequently asked questions

What format is this edition?

The listing identifies it as a DVD in NTSC format, with one disc.

What bonus material is listed?

The listing mentions a conversation between Hervé Dumont and Peter Cowie, an interview with Farran Smith Nehme, audio excerpts of an interview with Borzage, a restoration program, and a 1940 radio adaptation. The longer description additionally lists English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing and an essay by Dan Callahan.

Is the restoration 2K or 4K?

The listing gives conflicting descriptions: the detailed feature list says 2K digital restoration, while another section says restored 4K digital transfer. It does not establish which wording is correct.