rsda0723

I just caught this film on TCM. It must has escaped because I was the unfortunate one to catch it. I couldn't believe my eyes and ears when Gloria Warren comes on the screen as a 3rd rate Deanna Durbin. And she is on a boat (like THREE SMART GIRLS) then gets off the boat and gets on a bike to sing (every other Durbin film). The rest of the musical numbers done by groups of harmonica playing buffoons are torture to watch and more tortuous to listen to. The plot which is about Walter Huston an ex-con and Kay Francis his ex-wife gives them probably no more than an half hour of screen time. This was not remade as YOUNG AT HEART as it states in Trivia. YOUNG AT HEART was a remake of FOUR DAUGHTERS. If this was ever remade, someone forgot to take their pills that day. Slap-dash, moronic, ruined by over acting children and house keeper Una O'Conner. And Anthony Caruso dancing like a follies chorus boy with 2 left feet. And to think we have lost the negatives to such great films but this one survived. What a pity.

First of all, we all agree that George Raft was wooden and didn't have a clue what a good script looked like. He did turn down CASABLANCA, MALTESE FALCON and DOUBLE INDEMNITY. But this script produced and directed by Roy Del Ruth is bottom of the barrel. How Virginia mayo ever got tied up to this production is a mystery. A waste of her time and effort especially since she was in a flurry of excellent films like WHITE HEAT and Colorado TERRITORY.

At least Raymond Burr and Henry Morgan bring some life to the proceedings. Dmitri Tiomkin's score hammers home every scene like a sledge hammer. He makes Max Steiner look subtle. He uses Ave Maria to the point of nausea. I can't imagine how this film could appeal to many folks looking for a good suspenseful film noir. A tepid try not worth your time.

This is a forgotten classic from the 40's by Republic. It was sadly remade in 1957 with the wonderful Ethel Barrymore. The remake doesn't hold a candle to the 1943 film. When Republic Studio hit hit's mark, it really did make some memorable films such as this with Mabel Paige. I think the sentimental screenplay was just not right foe the late 50's. But it is a film to be treasured and will wring a tear from even the hardest heart. I recently saw the remake JOHNNY TROUBLE on TCM and though it was occasionally well meaning, it lacked the heart of the original. Don't miss this film if you are able to find it in it's original 80 minute length. Unfortunately many versions have been cut to as low as 60 minutes.