Customer Reviews

It Happened Tomorrow [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The great french master Rene Clair directed this movie when he was in exile in Hollywood. Dick Powell (who is slightly aged at this point; his haydays as a baby face was in the thirties) plays a news paper editor to whom, by some miracle, somebody put's the next day's paper in his pocket. In stead of telling this story as a fairy tale, Clair choses to direct it as a screwball comedy. And his sense of mad-cap comedy is as zany as in his more famous French films such as in Le Million, Les Belles de Nuit, making it a quite an enjoyable comedy with certain philosophical (but never serious) undertone. The tape is made from a beautiful print restored and preserved by UCLA Film-TV Archives. The black and white cinematography and the sets depicting New York at the turn of the century is also a joy to watch.

Pop Benson (John Philliber) had wise words for young reporter Larry Stephens (Dick Powell), if only Stephens had listened. "There's nothing as dead as yesterday's news," Larry had said to Pops, the aging librarian of the New York newspaper they both worked for. "You have no imagination, young man," Pops replied. "News is what happens. What's the difference if it happens 50 years ago or tomorrow?" But Larry realizes what it would mean if he could know the future, even if it were just 24 hours ahead. He could write his own ticket as a reporter. Pops cautions him. "It's no good to know the future. We've all got to die someday...but if we knew the day, even if it was 20 years off...my boy, every day of your life would be poisoned."

Late that evening, walking by the closed newspaper offices, Larry meets Pops again. And Pops hands him a copy of their newspaper and tells him not to lose it. The next morning Larry realizes it's today's paper, which isn't due to be printed for several hours. Larry finds himself on a rollercoaster...writing up a crime only he knows is going to happen, becoming a hero to his boss, meeting the love of his life, Sylvia Smith (Linda Darnell), and her blustering uncle, Oscar Smith (Jack Oakie), aka The Great Giglioni, who have a phony psychic act. He also becomes a police suspect because he seems to know too much about crimes just happening. Then Pop appears again, late at night, and gives him another paper. He races to the river to save Sylvia in a good hearted scheme to help her uncle. He makes a fortune at the race track. And he comes across a story on page one: Ace reporter Larry Stephens is shot to death at the St. George Hotel. Everything in the two newspapers Pops has given him have turned out to be true. There's no reason to think his death won't turn out to be true, too.

Well, bear in mind that this is a turn-of-the-century romantic fantasy by one of the great light romantic directors, Rene Clair. The whole story is a clever, charming fable, expertly directed by Clair and acted with assurance by Powell. There's no doubt in the world that the ending will be happy, not the least because the story starts with the 50th wedding anniversary party being held for Larry and Sylvia Stephens by their many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Only then does the movie slip back in time. Clair doesn't waste a minute reflecting on fate; there's just the set up with what Pops tells Larry. Be careful what you wish for, Clair is saying, and he shows the consequences with humor and warmth.

Dick Powell may have been a bit too old for the part of the young, eager reporter, but he carries off the role with confidence and style. He was an expert light comedian. Watch how he reacts to reading the news of his death. This same year, 1944, saw his emergence as a tough guy, playing Philip Marlowe in Murder, My Sweet. It was a part he had to fight for. I've always thought Powell was a watchable, interesting actor. Even with Jack Oakie's comic blustering, Powell has no difficulty dominating the movie.

The film looks great. It was restored and remastered as part of the UCLA Film Archive. There are no extras.

In the Hollywood tradition of the 1940's feel good cinema comes a non-Hollywood production that is just as charming. I will never get bored of this film, from the comic interludes to the hokey ending that was required of all movies in that era. Why, oh why, can't someone produce movies like this anymore? At every turn I, a 21 year old boy, simply thought, "Cool". A must see for anyone who appreciates old fashioned, cheese-ball cinema.

It Happened Tomorrow is like the pre-decessor for the TV show Early Edition. It is about a newspaperman (Dick Powell) who tells an old man in the records department that he'd give ten years of his life to see tomorrow's newspaper. In fact, he does, for three days, and what he sees isn't necessarily great news. There are plenty of twists and turns in this film, telling us and Powell that what appears to be the case might not always be the truth.

Powell is wonderful in this movie (with a moustache!). Not only is he great in the leading man spot, he's very funny too. He is the perfect blend of the guy next door and the hero-type, making him easy to relate to and interesting enough to want to watch.

Costarring Linda Darnell as Powell's love interest and Jack Oakie as her protective uncle, this is a fun example of a lesser known gem of Hollywood.

Rene Clair's lightness of touch and subtle humor enlivens this slight fantasy-comedy with numerous small pleasures. Observe, for example, Darnell's sly takes during her "mind-reading" trances. Or Powell's wry reactions during the film's final minutes. Or Jack Oakie's manful wrestling with various accents (his natural lisp usually wins out). Low-key and endearing, in a pleasing transfer.

Great fantasy story with a great cast and a very good DVD presentation from Kino. It's not perfect, but overall a pretty good restoration. No extras.

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Rating: 3 1/2 stars

I saw "It Happened Tomorrow" quite a long time ago when I was young and my memory of it was that it fell into the fantasy genre category, akin to a Twilight Zone episode. Having just seen it again at the ripe old age of fifty-eight, it's quite clear that the 'fantasy' element is probably the best aspect of the narrative, but truth be told, this film is primarily put together as a romantic comedy. It's a charming little film with a strong Act 1 opening and a very engaging Act 3 climax. It only falters during the long-winded second Act, where some of the comic digressions fall flat.

'It Happened Tomorrow' is at its best when the reporter protagonist, Larry Stevens, charmingly played by Dick Powell, encounters 'Pop Benson', the mysterious old man (winningly played by John Philliber) who provides Larry with tomorrow's newspaper. Ironically, Philliber died the same year (1944) the movie was released. And here he plays a character (who we learn at the end of the film) has been handing Larry the newspapers after his purported death, shortly after offering up some enigmatic comments on the nature of time to Larry and his cronies down at the newspaper office.

You'll notice that director Rene Clair doesn't have Larry discover right away, the fact that the first newspaper Pop has given him, is from one day in the future. He cleverly has Larry's acquaintance in the restaurant read the weather report, indicating unseasonal snow in May. Then Larry realizes just what Pop has given him when he looks through the restaurant window, and discovers indeed that the snowflakes are coming down in May. The acquaintance has been looking for a job and runs over to another restaurant only to find a female employee denying that her boss is looking for new help. The acquaintance stalks out, leaving Larry witness to the firing of a 'butter fingered' dishwasher, confirming that indeed the boss had placed a want ad in tomorrow's late edition.

The next sequence is even more exciting. After making the acquaintance of love interest Sylvia Smith (played by Linda Darnell who is saddled with a completely pedestrian part), Larry brings her to the opera where he knows from the newspaper that a robbery will take place. Director Clair displays his craftsmanship by showing the robbery through the perspective of the round glass windows inside the theater where Larry and Sylvia are standing, watching the opera. Only after the robbery is over does the camera zoom in to capture the police mop-up operation (the same technique is used in Act III after the shooting in the St. George Hotel).

Things slow down considerably in Act 2. Larry is accused by the police inspector of being an accomplice to the robbers and too much time is spent having Larry continually deny his guilt while the others, including the inspector (along with Larry's boss) remain incredulous in the face of the unlikely story Larry has been trying to peddle.

There's more long-winded stuff including too much time spent at the nightclub with Sylvia trying to pass muster as the resident psychic for her uncle, the great "Cigolini", played by an over the top Jack Oakie. Larry doesn't actually take possession of the second late edition; Pops merely relays information through Larry's jail cell that he's called a hero, for attempting to save a woman who jumps off a bridge. It turns out Sylvia is trying to make good on her prediction back at the nightclub that a woman will indeed jump off a bridge that evening. Before the big 'surprise', we're treated to a decidedly unfunny sequence where Sylvia, having been forced to wear Larry clothes after getting her dress drenched in the river, must break into her own apartment and fend off a gaggle of octogenarians, who believe they've witnessed a burglary in progress.

Things really pick up again when Larry reads his own obituary in the last edition he manages to obtain from Pops. After getting married, there's a great scene at the race track, where Larry picks the four winners, only to appear more and more gloomy after each victory (note that after the third horse wins, Larry sits cross-legged, totally dejected which mirrors his same pose following the shootout at the St. George). Larry believes he has a short respite after the fourth horse is declared a loser, only to have his worse fears confirmed again, after the winner has been disqualified.

The climax is filmed as an exciting chase sequence. I don't know which actor played the man who stole Larry's race track winnings, but he is truly menacing as a determined criminal. Larry and the robber face off inside a stairwell, on a rooftop and then finally inside the lobby of the St. George Hotel where Larry manages to dodge bullets flying in every direction. The money aptly disappears and Larry and Sylvia manage to walk off without a twinge of regret that the money was never recovered. The worst thing that happens is that Larry's colleague is unable to prevent the false news report of Larry's demise ending up in the evening paper.

While I didn't care much for the awkward 'anniversary' opening and ending scene, Larry and Sylvia's "B" story as well as Uncle Oscar's and Inspector Mulrooney's bumbling machinations, there is something downright neat about the idea of a man who reads a report of his own death in tomorrow's edition of a newspaper and can't decide whether he should try and prevent what supposedly is meant to be or simply accept his fate.

'It Happened Tomorrow' is a charming enough fantasy to hold your interest despite the distracting presence of low grade slapstick humor, typical of the romantic comedies of its day.

The reviews below do a fine job giving you an idea of the movie itself. I initially picked it up as I am a big fan of the TV show Early Edition. The movie does not disappoint with it's great writing, acting, and now infamous plot. Regardless of the show, the movie stands well on it's own.

What I wanted to make sure intrerested consumers were aware of was the DVD itself. The quality of the print is fantastic with very few artifacts. The audio is excellent with no noticeable drop outs or clipping. Sadly, there are no extras. I only gave 4 stars for this reason...

A silly story of a newspaperman (Dick Powell) who is miraculously given tomorrow's newspaper for a few consecutive days and, ultimately, has to prove that the report of his death is greatly exaggerated. IT HAPPENED TOMORROW is a comedy that isn't all that funny and a work of speculation that isn't all that compelling. Powell proves that he can't grow a moustache and looks bad in circa 1905 clothing. Fans of Jack Oakie can expect a couple of chuckles, Linda Darnell is beautiful. Would have given it another star if Powell had broken out into song, any song.

One wonders why UCLA spent time and money to refurbish this clunker. Young Linda Darnell, however gorgeous, can barely act. Jack Oakie plays...well, Jack Oakie. Edgar Buchanan is wasted as a cop. Dick Powell, now shedding his dumb tenor roles in those Busby Berkeley films, is competent and does his best to make this unfunny movie at least palatable.

If you're into amateur theatre, you might like this. Otherwise, save your money.