Remember the Day (1941)

When was the last time you found yourself thinking about that middle school teacher you had such a crush on?  You know, the teacher you adored so much that you wished the entire school day belonged to English (or math, or whatever) class, just so you could be in his (or her) presence...the teacher you so wanted to impress that you worked your tail off in his (or her) class, knowing he (or she) would be proud of your efforts and accomplishments...the teacher who, in the fantasy world of the "tween," you imagined might "like you back."  Never mind that we now know it would be foolhardy, not to mention illegal, for a teacher to get involved with one of his students; in the dream world of a 1970's middle schooler, a love affair with the teacher was possible. For me, the teacher who inspired those things was 6th grade English teacher, Richard Barnett---oh, was he dreamy! Though the man hasn't crossed my mind in close to 40 years, after watching the very charming, heartwarming, and sentimental Remember the Day last night, I found myself thinking about him, even vividly visualizing his handsome face and friendly smile.  One of the "new to me" films I had on my agenda for Claudette Colbert month, this lovely 1941 romantic drama also stars John Payne and features Douglas Croft, Ann Todd, Anne Revere, and Jane Seymour in supporting roles.  If you are anything like I am, this Henry King-directed film will take you on a trip down memory lane, bringing those crush-inducing teachers to your mind front and center.

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Mostly told in flashback, the story begins in the present day, as presidential nominee Dewey Roberts (John Sheppard, aka Shepperd Strudwick) prepares to  speak at a Washington, D.C. event. Among those in attendance is a somewhat-older-looking woman, Nora Trinell (Claudette Colbert), who hopes for an opportunity to meet with Mr. Roberts.  After handing a note to the bellboy, Miss Trinell allows her mind to travel back to April, 1916, when she first met little boy Dewey (Douglas Croft).

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A student at Auburn Grammar School, the school where Nora has just begun teaching, Dewey Roberts is a bright and friendly young man.  In very short order, a special bond is formed between the boy and his teacher, with Miss Trinell even stopping by Dewey's home when he is absent due to a knee injury and with Dewey naming his model ship the Miss Trinell. Although Dewey's plan has long been to attend his father's old prep school the following year, because of his attachment to Miss Trinell, he changes his mind.  Telling his beloved teacher that she's beautiful, Dewey informs her that he is going to stay on at Auburn and play football under Mr. Hopkins (John Payne).

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A fellow teacher at Auburn, Dan Hopkins coaches the baseball and football teams.  He and Nora fall in love, yet with their positions at the school to be considered, they don't publicly declare their love. Both Nora and Dan are quite close to Dewey, and through postcards they each send him, their relationship comes to the attention of the school principal.  Mindful that his teachers need to be setting a good moral example for the students, Mr. Steele requests a resignation.  (I don't want to give too much of the story away, so I won't reveal more than that.)

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The years go by...Dewey Roberts grows to be a successful man with presidential aspirations...Nora Trinell gets older, touching the lives of countless other students along the way.  Now, here in 1941, will they have a chance to speak with one another?  And if they do, will Dewey even remember the teacher he used to love so dearly?  These questions will play out in the remainder of the film.

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Remember the Day is a charming, extremely sentimental movie, with enjoyable performances from all. Miss Colbert and Mr. Payne have terrific chemistry together, and Ann Todd (Ann E. Todd, not British actress Ann Todd) is her usual delightful self.  Douglas Croft, who would grow up to be Gary Cooper in Pride of the Yankees and James Cagney in Yankee Doodle Dandy, is another child actor I enjoy watching.  He does a great job here.  Incredibly heartwarming, this film didn't just get me misty-eyed---it had me heartily weeping.

The film was released shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, in December, 1941, so, obviously it did much more than simply entertain; with its nostalgic, patriotic tone, I'm sure it inspired audiences as well.  It definitely worked its nostalgia on me, reminding me of one of the most wonderful, inspiring (and crushable) teachers I ever had---6th grade English teacher, Richard Barnett. I think now is a good time to pull those boxes of yearbooks out of the far recesses of the garage!

Remember the Day is out on DVD (and available through Classic Flix); it used to be available on YouTube, but I can't find it there anymore.  I do hope you get a chance to see it, as it is a lovely, heartwarming story and, easily, a 4-star film for me.

Happy viewing!!

CMBA "Fabulous 40's" Blogathon---Sentimental Journey (1946)

Sentimental, sensitive,  and extremely emotional by nature, I am always on the lookout for touching, tender, heart-tugging films, and after finally tracking down 1946's Sentimental Journey---which had been on my "want to see" list for close to four years---I thought it would be the perfect addition to the Classic Movie Blog Association's "Fabulous Films of the 1940's" blogathon.  There are hundreds of wonderful films in that decade, and nearly four dozen of them are being showcased by other bloggers in this 6-day event.  To read the other entries, go here.

The second of four films Maureen O'Hara and John Payne made together, Sentimental Journey is a little-heard-of gem.  It features William Bendix and Sir Cedric Hardwicke in supporting roles and introduces child star Connie Marshall.  (While Miss Marshall had appeared in Sunday Dinner for a Soldier two years earlier, it is in Sentimental Journey that she is billed as being presented.)  Directed by Walter Lang, this lovely drama runs 94 minutes.

When stage actress Julie Beck (Maureen O'Hara) learns she is dying, her first thought is about her producer husband, Bill (John Payne).   Julie knows she is Bill's whole world, and she fears he will have no desire to go on without her. Wanting a child for Bill to cling to after she's gone, yet knowing she is unable to bear a child herself, Julie wonders if adoption might be the answer.

While walking on the beach shortly after recovering from a bad spell, Julie comes upon a group of children from a Brooklyn orphanage; she is immediately drawn to the one little girl sitting all alone.  A dreamy, fanciful child, Hitty (Connie Marshall) reminds Julie of herself at that age, and she approaches Bill about adopting her.  A somewhat selfish, possessive man, Bill---who has no idea Julie is dying---doesn't see the need for a child; in fact, he says, Julie is the only family he needs.  However, to please Julie, he agrees, and the two of them make a trip to the Martha Stone Orphanage.

Hitty is thrilled to see Julie again, and she happily accompanies the couple to their New York home.    Sweet and loving, and with a desire to please, Hitty quickly learns how to take care of Bill and make his home life comfortable.  But Bill is not comfortable---he's tense and agitated...and completely annoyed by Hitty's fanciful nature.  And when Julie chooses to stay home with a sick Hitty rather than attend an event with him, Bill is angry.  He doesn't like having to share his wife.

Knowing Bill can't change who he is, nor can Hitty change who she is, Julie finds herself in the position of having to choose between them.  Should she send Hitty back to the orphanage?   The stress of the situation brings about a fatal attack, and just before she dies, Julie begs Hitty to stay with Bill no matter what..to watch over him...to continue doing for him all the things they had done for him together.

Completely devastated by his wife's death, Bill can barely function.  He gets through her funeral and the days afterward as though in a trance.  He certainly wants no part of Hitty and her attempts to fill the void left by Julie's death.  And for Hitty, who is also grieving the loss of Julie, Bill's rejection is heartbreaking.  How these two hurting souls find peace and love will play out in the balance of this lovely, sob-inducing film.





Sentimental Journey is a wonderful, 4-star film for me.  Maureen O'Hara is the most beautiful I have ever seen her.  She's simply stunning here, and her character is a joy---kind, caring, gentle, accepting.  John Payne's character is---as is necessary for the story---self-centered and unlikable.  Still, though, I couldn't help rooting for him to come to his senses and realize what he was throwing away.  Though perhaps not on the same plain as Natalie Wood, Connie Marshall is, nevertheless, completely charming as little Hitty. She will easily capture your heart!  Just like Miss O'Hara and Miss Wood had super chemistry together in Miracle On 34th Street, so, too, do mother and daughter have a beautiful connection in this film.  As Julie's doctor, Cedric Hardwicke has a fairly small part, but he plays it well.  And William Bendix---as Bill and Julie's friend and Hitty's adopted "Uncle Donnelly"---adds a bit of lightheartedness. Given the film's title, it will come as no surprise that the lovely 1945 song "Sentimental Journey" is liberally interspersed throughout.  As Julie and Bill's song, that beautiful melody is heard over and over again.



Although Sentimental Journey touched me deeply and had the potential to be another Penny Serenade in my estimation, I have to admit that it fell just a trifle short, a result, I think, of it's 94-minute running time.  With Penny Serenade coming in at 119 minutes, there was a full 25 minutes more to develop the characters and situations.  As it was, I felt things were rushed and, therefore, a little less deep than they could have been.  Had the film been longer, I have no doubt it would have merited 5 stars, instead of the 4 I have given it.

Sadly, Sentimental Journey is a film that is not easy to track down---it's not out on DVD, and TCM never seems to air it (at least in the three to four years I've been looking for it, I've not noticed it on their schedule).  Finally, earlier this year, I found it in its entirety on YouTube; however, as of the day of this writing, it appears to be there no longer.  All that to say, finding a way to view Sentimental Journey may be rather difficult, but if you do get the opportunity, go for it.  It's a sweet and---as its name suggests---sentimental journey.

Happy viewing!