Now Voyager (1942)

1/12/06

Also seen by me yesterday: Now Voyager is one of the more respected love storys of the 1940's. Based on the novel by Stella Dallas author Olive Higgins Prouty, Now Voyager is the story of Charlotte Vale (Bette Davis), youngest daughter of Mrs. Henry Windle Vale (Gladys Cooper) of the well respected Boston Vale family. The 'old maid' (she can't be more then 30 something in this film) Aunt Charlotte is driven to a nervous breakdown by her domineering mother. Taken to a retreat in Vermont by kindly doctor Jaquith (Claude Rains playing a psychologist for the second time in a year), Charlotte loses weight and demonstrates a great deal of psychological improvement. Feeling that she needs some real world experience to cape her recovery Dr. Jaquith sends her on a cruise from New York to Rio and back financed by her caring sister-in-law Lisa Vale (Ilka Chase). On the boat Charlotte hooks up with unhappy married man Jerry Durrance (Warners European import Paul Henrid), wins back her confidence, and ill-fated romance ensues. An inspiring story about coming out of ones shell, Now Voyager is Bette Davis in fine form in a sympathetic role. The rest of the cast especially Claude Rains and Paul Henreid give endearing performances with the film only marred by the forced comic relief of Frank Puglia as Giuseppe the incompetent cab driver, a character who feels like a refuge from another film.