The Shining Hour (play)

The Shining Hour is a 1939 American play written by Keith Winter. It is a melodrama focusing on a wealthy Midwestern family and the disruption caused by a seductive singer from New York City. Mariella Linden arrives to tutor the family's adopted daughter, but quickly becomes romantically involved with one of the brothers, Marty Linden, creating tension and jealousy within the household.

The play explores themes of class differences, marital infidelity, and the destructive power of infatuation. It premiered on Broadway at the Booth Theatre on February 14, 1939, and ran for 81 performances. The original Broadway cast included Raymond Massey, Gladys Cooper, and Marian Barney.

A film adaptation of the play, also titled The Shining Hour, was released in 1938, a year before the play's Broadway debut. While sharing the same title and core narrative, the film varies in certain plot details and character portrayals. The film starred Joan Crawford, Margaret Sullavan, and Melvyn Douglas. This pre-dates the play's run on Broadway, suggesting the film may have been an inspiration for the play.