Sleep, My Love (1948)

Though Douglas Sirk is mostly known for romantic melodramas, he did venture into other genre...including film noir.  One such example is 1948's Sleep, My Love, which stars Claudette Colbert, Robert Cummings, and Don Ameche.  Another of those "wife being driven to madness" films, Sleep, My Love features Queenie Smith, Hazel Brooks, Rita Johnson, and George Coulouris in supporting roles.

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Wealthy Allison Courtland (Claudette Colbert) awakens in the sleeper car of a New York-to-Boston train, hysterical because she has no recollection of how she got there. Despite the fact that witnesses claim to have seen her in Grand Central Station before departure, Allison insists that she did not board the train and had, in fact, gone to bed in her own home.  After phoning her husband, Richard (Don Ameche), to tell him where she is, Allison boards a plane for the flight back to New York. Although panicked by the situation in which she finds herself, Allison does manage to strike up a friendship with her seat-mate, Bruce Elcott (Robert Cummings).

Richard Courtland is relieved to have his wife back home; however, after informing her that she shot him the previous evening and reminding her that she has disappeared on other occasions, he convinces her that it's time to see a psychiatrist.  Allison reluctantly agrees, and Dr. Rinehart (George Coulouris) is called in---but Dr. Rinehart isn't a doctor at all. He is actually a man in cahoots with Richard Courtland, and the plan is to drive Allison to suicide and then cash in on her wealth.  Allison's only hope lies in new friend Bruce.  Will he figure things out in time to rescue her?  How it all plays out is the balance of the film.

While solid and interesting, Sleep, My Love fell a bit short for me. Although all the leads are fine in their roles, since I had been expecting something the caliber of Gaslight, I was letdown by this.  I found Miss Colbert and Mr. Cummings to be a rather strange pairing, plus the storyline was a bit too farfetched for me.  Also, the scene with the Chinese wedding seemed rather pointless.  Still, though, I enjoyed the film and deem it a solid 3-stars.  Another 3-star Claudette Colbert "woman being driven insane" film is The Secret Fury, which pairs Miss Colbert with (the wonderful and under-rated) Robert Ryan  (reviewed HERE).

To my knowledge, Sleep, My Love is not out on DVD; however, it is available on YouTube (HERE), plus, through instant streaming on Amazon.

Happy viewing!

Heaven Can Wait (3 stars)

Heaven Can Wait, from 1943, is a light romantic comedy starring Don Ameche, Gene Tierney, and Charles Coburn.  It was really hard to classify this film into any particular genre---there was an element of romance...there were some lighthearted moments which brought chuckles (particularly involving the fabulous Charles Coburn)...there were also a few surprisingly touching moments which actually made me teary-eyed. 

Henry Van Cleve (Don Ameche), recently departed this life at about 70 years of age, presents himself before the devil.  Sure that his earthly behavior would never allow him access to "the upstairs," Henry stands before the keeper of "down there," expecting immediate access.  He is told, however, that in order to enter "down there," he must meet the requirements.  Can Henry relate a crime he has committed, the devil asks him?  No, Henry cannot think of a crime; however, he begins to reflect back on a lifetime of relationships with women.

Beginning with his mother (the always-delightful Spring Byington) and then his French tutor, Henry relates how he has always had quite the way with women.  When, at age 25, he falls in love with his cousin's fiance, Martha (Gene Tierney), he causes a family scandal by stealing the woman away as his own bride.  However, fond of women as he is, Henry has extra-marital affairs, causing the long-suffering Martha to leave him after ten years of marriage.  Though she ultimately forgives him and returns to him, Martha is never quite certain of Henry's faithfulness.  It is for these behaviors that Henry believes the devil will allow him access to "down there."

So where exactly does Henry end up?  Upstairs?  Or "down there?"  That question will be answered by the end of this sweet film.  As I said earlier, this movie made me teary-eyed three different times...not sure why, because it's certainly not a tearjerker.  I just found it touching.

Heaven Can Wait, which is in color, gave Don Ameche the chance to age 50 years.  At first, he's his normal, quite good-looking self, then there's a touch of gray at the temples, and then, finally, he is nearly bald.  I think the makeup people did a very good job of aging him.

This film is out on DVD so it should be fairly easy to track down.  It's also available through Net Flix instant viewing and in several parts on You Tube.   It's a lighthearted, entertaining 110 minutes, so I hope you get a chance to see this.  Happy viewing!!