Now, Voyager (1942)

Now, Voyager

This is a 3-box of Kleenex film. Wonderfully acted by the ever changing Bette Davis, the music score by Max Steiner has great melodies. Even Black and White cannot affect the interesting plot. June 4, 2008

Now Voyager

If you are a fan of Bette Davis, this is the one for you (excellent movie) April 12, 2008

Magnificent Warner Brothers' Trio

Bette Davis captivates the lead in this, her best film. With one of the most versatile and seasoned actors, Claude Rains, one wonders who the true love match in the background story is between. Doubtless, Paul Henreid is well paired with Davis as a traveling companion and lover. This trio will meet on sets over and again because of the ways they unite to ingite the silver screen. The Warners had it made with these three great talents as part of their core acting team. We seem here to agree that "Now, Voyager" is a choice Bette Davis classic. Imagine what the next generation will be writing about it! No graphics, no special effects; tremendous script writing & adaptation and of course, the finest acting imaginable. Actors seem to compete with each other on screen today instead of drawing out the best performances in each other as these 3 'voyagers' did. March 20, 2008

What could be better...

...than Bette Davis chain smoking her way through life, and still looking glamorous?
...than her mother telling the psychologist that her daughter is no sicker than, "a moulting canary?
...than Claude Rains as the owl-eyed psychologist saying, "A mother's rights - twaddle?"

This is an epic picture, completely unbelievable (let's flash back to when she was 16 and in braids!) and completely Warner Brothers (the stock footage of South America...) Ridiculous coincidences, patronizing attitudes to "Latin types," and Paul Henried playing an American named Jerry.

But it's hypnotic, and not only a must-see, but a must-own. Line after line of elegant dialogue, and Mary Wickes as Dora the nurse!

The only thing I can't stand is the ghastly child actress - we can only hope she and her party dress were torn apart by wolves right after the last scene... February 28, 2008

The Untold Want

Walt Whitman wrote, "The untold want by life and land ne'er granted, Now voyager sail thou forth to seek and find." This short poem serves as the theme of both the film and its star's continual battles with Hollywood for self-determination.

Davis is brilliant as the brow-beaten Charlotte, used by her twisted, domineering mother and deprived of her own identity. Ultimately, she suffers a breakdown and discovers her own inner strength due to the kindness of the doctor and staff of a sanatorium. Testing her new-found-freedom, Charlotte takes a cruise and falls in love with Jerry, a married man with an equally unhappy and neglected daughter.

Charlotte returns home. Her newfound strength enrages and frustrates her mother so that she has a heart attack. Her death sends Charlotte back to the sanatorium, overcome by guilt. However, she emerges stronger than ever, finding the life of independence she deserves, and able to give that strength to others as well.

It's hard to pick the best of Bette Davis' films, but Now Voyager has my vote.
February 16, 2008

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