Released – October, 1942 

Directed By - Irving Rapper

Starring – Bette Davis (Charlotte Vale), Paul Henreid (Jerry Durrance), Claude Rains (Dr. Jaquith), Gladys Cooper (Mrs. Henry Vale).

Description – Charlotte Vale is unattractive, neurotic, depressed, and totally under the thumb of her domineering aristocratic mother.

Fearing for her emotional well-being, her sister-in-law arranges a meeting for Charlotte with psychiatrist Dr. Jaquith. After speaking with Charlotte, the Dr. suggests she spend some time in a sanatorium to get some emotional rest away from her mother.

The time spent at the sanatorium results in a startling transformation for Charlotte in both her appearance and demeanor. When her time at the sanatorium ends, rather than immediately return home, Charlotte decides to exercise her new feelings of independence by first taking a cruise.

On board the cruise ship Charlotte meets Jerry Durrance, a married man traveling with two friends. They enjoy each others company and while on a land excursion have a minor traffic accident that results in their missing the ship departure. They spend the next five days together and fall in love.

Charlotte returns home after she and the married Jerry decide it would be best if they did not see one another again. When arriving home, Charlotte’s family are stunned by her new appearance and independence. While some are pleased, her mother is not and seeks to gain back her dominance of her daughter.

Her efforts are unsuccessful as Charlotte draws upon her memories of Jerry to find the strength to remain resolute. Moving on with her life, she becomes engaged to wealthy widower Elliot Livingston.

A chance meeting with Jerry now turns everything upside-down again for Charlotte, bringing back a turn of events that will again damage the emotional fragility that previously haunted her.

NOTABLE: This picture won the Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, and was also nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Bette Davis), and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Gladys Cooper).

In 2007 this film was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

This film ranks #23 on AFI’s 100 Years…100 Passions, a list of America cinemas top love stories.

Original casting considerations for the role of Charlotte Vale went to Ginger Rogers, Irene Dunne, and Norma Shearer. However, after learning of the project, Bette Davis successfully campaigned for the role and convinced producer Hal B. Wallis that she was perfect for the part.

This film was the biggest box office of Bette Davis’s career.

Personal Comment: A well-acted melodrama that showcases the tremendous talent that was Bette Davis. There are a number of films suggested on this site that star Ms. Davis, who truly was one of the greatest actresses in motion picture history.

Now, Voyager (Keepcase)

The Bette Davis Collection, Vol. 1 (Now, Voyager / Dark Victory / The Letter / Mr. Skeffington / The Star)

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Released - April, 1942 

Directed By - Sam Wood

Starring – Ann Sheridan (Randy Monaghan), Robert Cummings (Parris Mitchell), Ronald Reagan (Drake McHugh), Betty Field (Cassandra Tower), Charles Coburn (Dr. Henry Gordon), Claude Rains (Dr. Alexander Tower), Judith Anderson (Mrs. Harriet Gordon).

Description – A powerful drama set in a midwestern town just before World War I that tells the intertwined story of  its citizens. The story concerns itself particularly with two young men Parris Mitchell, and Drake McHugh.

Revealed through the growing years of these two men will be the corruption and moral decay that lurks behind the peaceful facade of this serene community. There are many difficult facts that must be dealt with including challanges, tragedies, social pressures, and dark secrets.

It’s all there; just under the surface of small town America.

NOTABLE: This motion picture received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Director (Sam Wood), and Best Cinematography, Black and White.

This film was Ronald Reagan’s most notable role and was the inspiration for the title of his 1965 autobiography ‘Where’s the Rest of Me?’

There were problems with the Hays Code regarding this film, as they strongly objected to any reference to incest, homosexuality, nymphomania, and euthenasia.

The town depicted is based on Fulton, Missouri; the actual home of the novel’s author Henry Bellamann.

Kings Row

Ronald Reagan – The Signature Collection (Knute Rockne All American / Kings Row / The Hasty Heart / Storm Warning / The Winning Team)

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Released – December, 1941 

Directed By - George Waggner

Starring – Claude Rains (Sir John Talbot), Warren William (Dr. Lloyd), Ralph Bellamy (Colonel Montford), Patric Knowles (Frank Andrews), Bela Lugosi (Bela), Maria Ouspenskaya (Maleva), Evelyn Ankers ( Gwen Conliffe), Lon Chaney, Jr. (Lawrence Talbot/The Wolf Man).

Description – Returning home to Wales, in an effort to reconcile with his father Sir John Talbot, Lawrence Talbot meets and becomes romantically interested in local antique shop owner Gwen Conliffe.

He buys a silver-headed walking stick from her that is decorated with a wolf. She tells him that it is actually a werewolf, a man who changes into a wolf during certain times of the year.

Later that evening, Lawrence rescue’s Gwen’s friend Jenny from a wolf attack. During this encounter he is bitten by the wolf, who it turns out is actually a werewolf and the son of a gypsy fortuneteller.

The curse of the werewolf has now been passed to him.

NOTABLE: This movie features outstanding makeup and atmospheric music.

The makeup for Lon Chaney took six hours to apply and another three to remove.

The silver-headed cane used in the movie is the only remaining prop, and is in the personal collection of genre film archivist Bob Burns.

Personal Comment: This is classic horror genre at it’s best, ranking right up there with all-time classic horror films Frankenstein, Dracula, and Dr. Jekyll & Mister Hyde.

The Wolf Man (Universal Studios Classic Monster Collection)

The Wolf Man – The Legacy Collection (The Wolf Man / Werewolf of London / Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man / She-Wolf of London)

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Released – August, 1941 

Directed By - Alexander Hall

Starring – Robert Montgomery (Joe Pendelton), Evelyn Keyes (Bette Logan), Claude Rains (Mr. Jordan), Rita Johnson (Julia Farnsworth), Edward Everett Horton (Messenger 7013), James Gleason (Max Corkle).

Description – How would you like to die 50 years before your time? That’s what happens to boxer Joe Pendelton when heavenly bureaucracy screws up.  Wanting to make ammends, the heavenly administrators offer to place Joe into the body of a newly dead corpse who than shall remain alive.

Letting Joe make the selection he chooses the body of an extremely wealthy banker and financier, who happens to be a crook, named Farnsworth. It seems Farnsworth has just been drugged and drowned in his bathtub by his secretary and a man named Tony Abbott.

As the crooked Farnsworth, Joe rights a lot of the wrongs committed by the previous owner of his new body – only to find himself murdered again. Now what?

NOTABLE: This motion picture won two Oscar’s: Best Writing, Original Story, and Best Writing, Screenplay. It was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor (Robert Montgomery), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (James Gleason), Best Director (Alexander Hall), and Best Cinematography.

Here Comes Mr. Jordan

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Released – July, 1940 

Directed By - Michael Curtiz

Starring – Errol Flynn (Geoffrey Thorpe), Brenda Marshall (Dona Maria), Claude Rains (Don Jose Alvarez de Cordoba), Donald Crisp (Sir John Burleson), Flora Robson (Queen Elizabeth), Alan Hale (Carl Pitt).

Description – The swashbuckling adventure of buccaneer and pirate sea captain Geoffrey Thorpe. Unknown to Queen Elizabeth, King Philip II of Spain is building an armada for the purpose of invading England. 

Some of the Queen’s ministers are suspicious of the Spanish and encourage the Queen to strengthen her own fleet of warships.  Unable to do so because of financial considerations, Captain Thorpe offers to capture a large Spanish gold shipment and bring it back to England. 

Their mission turns out to be a trap by the Spanish, and Captain Thorpe is captured.  Now, the Captain and his few remaining men must figure out a way to escape and warn the Queen of the impending attack on England. 

NOTABLE: This exciting film was nominated for four Oscars; Best Art Direction, Best Special Effects, Best Music, and Best Sound.

The role of Dona Maria was originally intended for Olivia De Haviland who turned it down because she was tired of acting in swashbuckling movies.

The beautiful costumes used in the filming of ‘The Sea Hawk’ were used the previous year in Flynn’s movie ‘The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex’ saving Warner Brothers a great deal of money.

The (at that time) extravagent $1.7 budget included the building of two full-sized ships.

Included in the Errol Flynn Signature Collection, Vol. 1

Personal Comment: Errol Flynn, in my opinion, is the greatest swashbuckling adventure hero of all-time. No matter your age, if you love good old-fashioned action and adventure, you must put Errol Flynn at the top of that list.

The Sea Hawk

The Errol Flynn Signature Collection, Vol. 1 (Captain Blood / The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex / The Sea Hawk / They Died with Their Boots On / Dodge City / The Adventures of Errol Flynn)

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