And Now Tomorrow

Although she got second billing to Ladd, Young's articulate smooth projection of her character shines in this movie. Ladd probably got the top spot because in 1944 all men were fighting overseas leaving the women to make up the majority of the audience. Still, his portrayal is very believable as one who has humble beginnings yet rises in the class structure while still showing rough edges. The poor boy and rich girl theme is not as boring as it seems. The Ladd-Young interaction works well as their characters develop a reluctant caring for one another.

The supporting cast and crew represent a Hollywood Who's Who at the time. Beulah Bondi is one of the great supporting actors of the 30s and 40s. Her appearances while cameo always added depth to her films. Susan Hayward is superb as the brash assertive sister. One could go on: Barry Sullivan with his mellow distinctive voice; costumes by Edith Head, one of the great ladies of Hollywood; music by Victor Young.

Yes, the movie is dated. The Great Depression looms in the background. But that is also its strength. Seldom was the Depression ever directly mentioned in the cinema. It truly was one of the most formative experiences of American life because it affected the entire population. While class envy always existed in our collective culture class hatred never engendered much support. This movie touches on this with sophistication.

This motion picture is based on the last novel author Rachel Field wrote before she died in 1942. Miss Field had previously written another bestseller for women that had been adapted for the screen-- a Bette Davis hit called ALL THIS AND HEAVEN TOO. Warner Brothers was keen to get its hands on this property as well, no doubt as a follow-up vehicle for Davis, but was outbid by Paramount. David Selznick also coveted the property, probably for his protege and future wife Jennifer Jones.

Loretta Young had signed a multi-picture deal with Paramount as a freelancer. The previous year she had made CHINA with Alan Ladd under the direction of John Farrow. CHINA was a project that Young was passionate about as she was very concerned about the plight of Chinese orphans during the war. During production of that film, she and Alan Ladd did not get along. Both were concerned about who would be perceived as the star. Farrow's direction probably favored Ladd, as the outdoor action scenes were played up. Both stars said they'd never work together again, but CHINA was a smash hit and the studio was very interested in re-pairing them.

A year later Young was assigned to the picturization of the Field story, with Joel McCrea intended to be her leading man. But McCrea had to drop out to do war work, so Franchot Tone was put in his place. However, Ladd had just been rejected for military service and was now available. Paramount wasted no time replacing Tone and assigning Ladd to begin work at once alongside Young...this time under director Irving Pichel. Not surprisingly, Young & Ladd quarreled again. Young accused Ladd of not looking directly at her in their scenes together.

In this story, Young is playing a deaf woman who is also a snob. Ladd is a doctor who must cure her of both things. Maybe Ladd felt he could cure Young of some of her on-set issues by not playing right into them, especially if she was insecure. Young would later accuse Ladd of being insecure. You get the point...these stars brought out the worst in each other...and the best in each other. AND NOW TOMORROW was another hit for Paramount.

It should be pointed out that Loretta Young had previously played a deaf woman in 20th Century Fox's THE STORY OF ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL (1939) which was a big crowd pleaser. She seemed to have the market cornered on these types of roles. In this production, she is joined by Susan Hayward as her kid sister; and Beulah Bondi is on hand as their aunt. Meanwhile, Cecil Kellaway plays an older doctor who mentors Ladd.

I don't usually like Loretta Young, but I admit when actors or actresses I don't care for give objectively good performances. Loretta plays a deaf woman, ill with meningitis, and she's very good. Her eyes are glued to her fellow actors' lips, and when they turn away from her for a moment, she gets a bewildered look on her face until they return to face her. She wipes the fear and shame away and asks, even though it humiliates her to do it, them to repeat themselves. It's very realistic and natural.

When she falls ill, Loretta breaks her engagement to Barry Sullivan, so that his quality of life isn't diminished for having to care for a sick person. Alan Ladd, a new, unknown doctor, wants to experiment on Loretta to see if he can cure her, and in the many months of the treatment, Barry falls in love with Loretta's sister, Susan Hayward.

And Now Tomorrow is very similar to Dark Victory, so if you liked one, there's a good chance you'll like the other. Part medical drama, part love story, and chalk full of beautiful clothes from Edith Head, this is an overlooked classic that's great to watch with a bowl of popcorn on a rainy afternoon.

Loretta Young has lost her hearing due to a bout of meningitis. She meets a hollywood handsome doctor who has decided to try to cure her. He falls for her beautiful self, only thing is she's engaged to a man she loves. Unbeknownst to her the fiancé has fallen in love with her sister. Also unbeknownst to her she has fallen for the doctor. This is a melodrama made more interesting by the caliber of the actors, especially Susan Hayward.

meningitis several years before--learned to read lips awfully fast but she was speaking...easier lipreading NOT that accurate didn't' ask people to say things twice disdain for Blairs

I have a different insight into this film than most viewers since I am the father of a deaf daughter. So, I realized there were a few mistakes...but they certainly won't bother the average viewer. So, when I laugh when I see a woman learn to PERFECTLY speech read (the newer term for lip reading)...as almost no one can do it like the character does in this movie and most other films featuring deaf folks. No, deaf people cannot magically and perfectly understand folks by watching their lips...just like blind people cannot read with their fingers like Daredevil!

When the story begins, Emily Blair (Loretta Young) is seeing yet another specialist who informs her they cannot cure her deafness. You see, she recently lost her hearing due to meningitis (and learned to read lips almost INSTANTLY). However, a very grouchy young doctor, Dr. Vance (Alan Ladd) MIGHT be able to help her. So she puts her life into his hands...which is tough since he HATES the Blair family and has a hard time separating that from Emily.

At the same time, Emily's fiancée (Barry Sullivan) is waiting and waiting...two years. And, not surprisingly, he's tired of waiting and has fallen in love with Emily's sister (Susan Hayward). But, because he wants to be a good and faithful guy he STILL plans to marry Emily...but his heart certainly isn't in it!

So what's to become of all this melodrama? See the film...you'll enjoy it. Overall, it well acted though I WISH they had Ladd play someone who WASN'T grouchy as he played a grouch in MOST of his films!! Still, despite this, Young and the rest are quite good and the film a nice date night film...provided your date likes old films. If she doesn't...dump her (I am kidding).