A pair of golden oldies

As I have written before, I know of no better way of charging my batteries than to watch a couple of old favourites, far removed from the ways of modern film-making.  The first of these is "Hold Back the Dawn" from 1941, a glossy romancer starring that old smoothie Charles Boyer as an emigrant Romanian waiting at the border between Mexico and the USA for his quota entry to materialise, along with a jetsam and flotsam of other refugees from war-torn Europe. He meets slutty Paulette Goddard who advises him that the fastest way to gain entry is to marry an American.  So he approaches every likely tourist until he meets goofy and naive Olivia de Havilland (one of the few 30s stars still alive and kicking).  She immediately falls for his suave sophistication and becomes his unwitting stooge, since he has every intention of dumping her once he is safely across, but suspicious immigration officer, Walter Abel, is on his trail.  Needless to say, he eventually becomes fond of his new bride, but not before spiteful Goddard lets loose the cat among the pigeons,causing de Havilland to do a runner and nearly die in a car crash.  No prizes for working out that there is an ultimately happy ending, since that -- of course -- is one of the main reason for watching these ancient gems.

The second film yesterday was "It Happened Tomorrow" from 1944, one of four movies that French director, Rene Clair, made in America during his war sojourn.  This one stars Dick Powell in his second non-musical role as an ambitious reporter in turn-of-the-century New York, who is given the next evening's newspaper some 24 hours before it is printed three days running, and who thereby becomes privy to the news to come, winning horses, and unfortunately the report of his own death.  His leading lady is Linda Darnell whom I can usually take or leave, but she is charming and attractive here.  The balance of the cast are mainly B-list supporting actors, but it is always pleasant for me to see their friendly familiar faces.  How you may ask can Clair achieve the necessary happy ending if Powell is to be shot dead?  Well, I won't give the game away but all is satisfactorily and morally resolved (he may have used his knowledge to win a packet at the races, but the money is gone before the end credits.)

It doesn't take much to keep me happy!