As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.
... View MoreWhile it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
... View MoreWhile it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
... View MoreThe movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.
... View MoreThis is a very interesting film for me, because usually when there is an original and a remake, I (or almost anyone) will like one considerably more than the other. This film is a very close remake of "One Way Passage". This one starring George Brent and Merle Oberon, and "One Way Passage" starring William Powell and Kay Francis. Though 8 years apart, and the very early 1930s and 1940 were very different in terms of the quality of film-making, I like both films fairly equally. In each, the key stars are equally ingratiating. And, this film is a very good example of the power of story telling. After all, the Brent character is a convicted murderer (we never learn the details), while the pursuing policeman (Pat O'Brien) is the good guy. Yet, we want the convicted murderer to escape and carry on his romance with the equally doomed Merle Oberon.George Brent is, in my view, a much underrated actor. When you think of his many fine performances -- particularly opposite Bette Davis -- his star needs to be polished a bit. He is perfect here -- suave while being doomed to being hanged. What a wonderful romantic lead! Merle Oberon is an interesting actress. There are performances where she is memorable, and a few that I wasn't much impressed with. She is excellent here -- plays a very nice balance between a doomed heart patient and a woman wants to live life to its fullest. Incidentally, elsewhere on this movie's IMDb page it mentions that the film is inaccurate in that angina pectoris has been treated using nitroglycerin for many years before this and the previous version of the story were made. The symptoms are treated with nitroglycerin, but that drug does not cure it, and the condition is merely the symptoms of underlying heart disease...further, there is stable and unstable angina, the latter of which is far more serious.Pat O'Brien, a very "old school" actor, is quite good here. He plays his role as policeman with enough dedication and empathy for the criminal to make it credible.In supporting roles, Geraldine Fitzgerald is good as a newlywed fellow passenger and friend of Merle Oberon's character (she played a similar role in Bette Davis' "Dark Victory"). Binnie Barnes is interesting as a female con artist. Eric Blore brings some humor as a victim of almost everyone's con games. Henry O'Neill is a character actor I always enjoy, this time in the small role as the ship's doctor. George Reeves (Superman) is on hand in a small role.Frank McHugh...when I was a kid I enjoyed him when I would watch old movies. But as I've matured, I have tired of his constant roles as a drunk. Perhaps he was a one-trick pony. It is interesting that he played the same part in both film versions of this story.As to the plot, it's good, although nowadays we would question the realness of the policeman giving his prisoner the run of the ship. And of course, the big question at the end of the film is -- the broken glasses -- done by the two leads...or their ghosts.Though very sentimental, highly recommended, and this (and the older version) are on my DVD shelf.
... View More'Til We Meet Again is a remake of Warner Brothers earlier film, One Way Passage, a story of doomed romance that starred William Powell and Kay Francis. This film and the previous one concerns the shipboard romance of a man being brought back to the United States in custody to face the gas chamber in San Quentin and a terminally ill woman on a cruise for one last fling at life. Taking the parts of Powell and Francis are George Brent and Merle Oberon.I can see Jack Warner's mind at work on this one. The year before George Brent had romanced and treated the terminally ill Bette Davis in Dark Victory. Why not get Brent into a remake of this other film about a dying woman and her last romance? We even get Geraldine Fitzgerald in this one in the same part, best friend to the terminally ill woman.The part of the police lieutenant escorting Brent is built up considerably from One Way Passage where the role was played by Warren Hymer. Here Pat O'Brien is the cop and he's nobody's fool. Still Brent has friends on board, Frank McHugh who's a con man with a nice drunk act and Binnie Barnes who's a con woman with a phony French accent. She goes after O'Brien and not totally in the line of duty. She's also my favorite in this film.Oberon and Brent make a beautiful pair of lovers and one had better have as big a supply of handkerchiefs as one did in watching One Way Passage.
... View MoreExcellent and very enjoyable, 'Til We Meet Again is about an escaped prisoner and an ill woman who fall in love on a cruise ship. This movie had me figuratively grabbing for the tissues. But I won't discuss the plot so as not to spoil anything. Suffice it to say, the movie starts sweetly, and quickly becomes unexpectedly compelling and enormously satisfying -- as very few movies are.It stars Merle Oberon and George Brent, and they are both great! I could hardly believe this was the same George Brent as his sedate character in Dark Victory.And Merle Oberon is breathtaking. So exquisitely beautiful, and charming and delicate like porcelain. Her looks and mannerisms and innocent style and charm reminded me very much of Audrey Hepburn, and I kept wondering if Hepburn could have played the role (had she been the correct age), but I concluded Oberon was definitely the right actress.Merle's unusual, exotic dark looks, otherworldly beauty, and rare talent and magnetism prompted me to look up more about her, and I found out she was born in India and was half Indian! Her mother was Indian. That explains her unique look and air, which sets her apart from all other Hollywood stars.This film, like Now Voyager and Ship of Fools, and all the greatest classic love stories, has a beautiful musical love theme that carries you through the movie, whenever the two lead characters are together. 'Til We Meet Again's love theme is exquisite.This movie is a well-made, very classy film that's enjoyable, captivating, moving, and extremely fulfilling. The characters are engaging and unforgettable, emotionally identifiable and heartfelt. I certainly recommend 'Til We Meet Again, especially if you love romances, or especially if you love classic films/dramas that are unusual and exquisite.
... View MoreThis is a great 1940's Classic film with great actors like Merle Oberon (Joan Ames),"A Song to Remember",'45, who goes on a cruise ship and meets George Brent,(Don Hardesty), "The Spiral Staircase",'46, and the couple fall deeply in love. These two love birds each have secrets that they are keeping from each other and vow to meet in Mexico City. However, Pat O'Brien,(Police Lt. Steve Burke),"The Fighting 49th",'40 has his eyes on Don Hardesty in order to bring him to Justice!. There are great supporting actors, Frank McHugh,(Rockingham T. Rockingham),"Mighty Joe Young",'49, and George Reeves,(Jimmy Coburn),"Superman",'73 who unfortunately in real life took his own life. If you liked Pat O'Brien, George Brent and the beautiful Merle Oberon, you will not want to miss this film! Enjoy.
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