The Other Side of Midnight is a 1973 novel by Sidney Sheldon. The book reached No.1 on the New York Times Best
Seller list. It was made into a 1977 motion picture, directed by Charles Jarrott. The cast included Marie-France Pisier, John Beck, Susan Sarandon, and Josette Banzet. Author Sidney Sheldon Language English Genre(s) Thriller Publisher Warner Books Publication date 1973 Media type Print (Paperback) ISBN ISBN 0-446-35740-5
Plot summary The story focuses on two women: the first is an enchanting French actress, Noelle Page, who journeys from the fishing town of Marseilles to fame and glory. Having been sold by her own father, she reconciles herself to a life that bears no similarity to the picture perfect one she dreamt of when she was young, and sets her sights on achieving her goal of becoming a successful filmstar. She succeeds on making it to the top by pleasuring various men. On the other side of the globe, Catherine Alexander, a naive and beautiful young woman, struggles in Chicago for recognition and success. American war aviator Larry Douglas is a typical playboy who trots around the globe sweeping women off their feet. Constantin Demiris is a Greek tycoon who owns half the world. Cunning and influential, he does not forgive and forget. Demeris controls the lives of the other three characters in a most unexpected manner, twisting the plot to a stunning finish.
The
Star Wars Connection The 1977 film that was based on the novel
The Other Side of Midnight was heavily promoted by 20th Century-Fox. Since the book was very successful, anticipation was that that would translate to success at the box office. Another film the studio was promoting at the same time was
Star Wars, a film that was considered controversial within the studio for its growing expense. Fearing that
Star Wars would be a flop, the studio made a preemptory decision to grant prints of
The Other Side of Midnight only to those theaters that agreed to book
Star Wars as well.
Ultimately, however, it was
The Other Side of Midnight that proved to be the box office disaster.
Star Wars ultimately grossed a then-record $237m in North America in its first run.