★ 7 / 10
Like in so many families at the start
CinemaSerf
Like in so many families at the start of the Great War, husband "John" kisses his wife "Elizabeth" (Claudette Colbert) and sets off for the conflict never to…
Like in so many families at the start of the Great War, husband "John" kisses his wife "Elizabeth" (Claudette Colbert) and sets off for the conflict never to return. After twenty years, she has moved on with her life. She has their son "Drew" (Richard Long) and a new husband "Lawrence" (George Brent) and is facing the daunting prospect of the former keen to join up to fight in World War II. Matters take an ever more peculiar turn when her husband invites a renowned scientist to their home only for her to faintly recognise their guest. He - "Erik" (Orson Welles) instantly recognises her and as we gradually come to realise just who is who here, the drama unfolds in a gently conflicting and well paced fashion with a charming chemistry on screen between both Colbert and Welles and Colbert and the under-used but effective Brent. The make-up artists had perhaps attacked Welles with a little to much zeal, but the thrust of the story about enduring affection, tragedy and sadness is well played out by this strong cast under the able direction of Irving Pichel. Unfortunately, it's heavily over-scored: too many choirs of angelic voices towards the end, but the characterisations are convincing and the melodrama - though tantalisingly close at times, is largely kept in abeyance. The early appearance from Natalie Wood here is only really notable for whom she went on to become, but there is quite a nice contribution from Lucile Watson as the stabilising "Aunt Jessica". The ending, though predictably sad, is eerily fitting too. It has a typical post-war feel good factor to it, certainly, but it does also nod to that sense that so many families must have felt as the realisation that war was looming and that close and personal losses were imminent. At times this is quite a touching piece of cinema.
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★ 8 / 10
wonderfully acted and directed film
blanche-2
On the brink of World War II, a man believed killed in World War I returns in "Tomorrow is Forever," directed by Irving Pichel and starring Claudette Colbert…
On the brink of World War II, a man believed killed in World War I returns in "Tomorrow is Forever," directed by Irving Pichel and starring Claudette Colbert, Orson Welles, George Brent, Richard Long, and Natalie Wood. After her husband John's death in the first world war, Elizabeth (Colbert) finds out she's pregnant. She ultimately makes a new life for herself with Lawrence (Brent), and together they have a daughter. Lawrence raises the son (Long) as his own. When "Dr. Kessler" (Welles), a scientist working with her husband, first appears at their home, Elizabeth doesn't realize it's John, who never returned to the U.S. because of his crippling, debilitating war wounds. He has a young child with him, Margaret (Wood), who it turns out is the child of his late doctor and his wife.
This is a beautifully done movie in every respect, including Max Steiner's music (though a little strong at times), and holds the viewer's interest throughout. Colbert is lovely as a tormented woman who has to deal with the prospect of her son going off to war as his father did - and perhaps never returning. Her scene as she comes downstairs and sees Dr. Kessler for the first time is wonderful. Something about him startles and unnerves her immediately, and it's apparent on her face. Two young actors who died too young - Richard Long and Natalie Wood - also appear in the "Tomorrow is Forever." Handsome Long, who would find success in television, makes a good impression in his first film. Wood, a blond here, is absolutely adorable and very accomplished, speaking German and then English with a German accent.
Orson Welles is an actor whose magnificent presence, acting technique, and voice allowed him to basically phone in most roles - his whole purpose in movie acting was to make money for his film projects - but obviously Irving Pinchot didn't accept a phone-in from him. Welles gives a very touching and believable performance as both young John and the older, ill Dr. Kessler. "Living in the past will not bring back what you had," he tells Elizabeth, "only destroy what you have." A wonderful, wonderful movie. Have a box of tissues nearby.
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So dare you not to shed a tear at the end of this one. Thanks Freeo.. awesome effort as always