Young Man with Ideas (3 stars)

Young Man with Ideas, from 1952, is a lighthearted domestic drama starring Glenn Ford and Ruth Roman, with Nina Foch and Denise Darcel taking on supporting roles.  Though the film is mostly a drama, there are several lighthearted comedic moments as well.

While he works for a prestigious Montana law firm, mild-mannered, unassertive Max Webster (Glenn Ford) is rather the low-man on the totem pole, never receiving recognition or appreciation for all he does.  Irritated by this, Max's wife, Julie (Ruth Roman), urges him to talk to his boss about the possibility of being taken on as a partner.  Things don't go well, however, and Max packs his things and heads to Los Angeles, where he and Julie believe there will be more opportunity for him.

Arriving in Los Angeles, Max, who has little confidence in himself, is worried about his ability to pass the California Bar exam.  In his Bar exam classes, he makes the acquaintance of Joyce (Nina Foch), who suggests that, until he passes the Bar and is a practicing lawyer, he get a job at the collection agency where she works.  Although Julie doesn't believe Max could do that kind of a job, he takes it just to prove he can; it's not a job suited to Max's personality, however, and he ends up being quite the pushover.

 As if the job difficulties aren't enough, the house the Websters are renting previously belonged to a bookie, and their phone is constantly ringing with men wanting to place bets.  Julie jokingly accepts a bet one time, and when that particular horse wins big, the "bookie" is expected to payoff.  Now, in addition to his worries about passing the Bar and collecting past due bills, Max must worry about the mobster who expects him to pay out his winnings.  And with Julie having little to no confidence in him or respect for him, Max's confidence in himself is at an all-time low; if things don't change soon, he may find himself having to put his tail between his legs and run back to his old job in Montana.

While Young Man with Ideas is certainly not a fantastic film, I found it entertaining and enjoyable.  Glenn Ford, I think, is always delightful and fun.  In fact, he's the reason I set my DVR for this film.  Ruth Roman and Nina Foch were fine in their roles.  Nothing spectacular, but completely adequate.  Sheldon Leonard, who is always a scream, portrayed the mobster expecting a payoff.  He was perfect in his role.  Finally, the little girls playing the Webster's daughters were totally adorable.  All these things combined to make a sweet and enjoyable film.

Although this film is not out on DVD, it is available in its entirety on YouTube (HERE).  If you are a Glenn Ford fan, do try to catch it.  I feel sure you will enjoy it.

Happy viewing!!

Tomorrow Is Another Day (4 stars)

Tomorrow Is Another Day, from 1951, is a surprisingly entertaining crime drama/film noir starring Ruth Roman and Steve Cochran.  I caught this on TCM recently, and I must admit, though it sounded interesting, I really wasn't expecting much.  To be quite honest, since I've never heard the film mentioned, and since neither Ruth Roman or Steve Cochran are mega-stars, I figured it would be a typical "B" movie...mildly interesting, but nothing I would ever want to watch again.  In fact, I was so sure it wouldn't be a "keeper" that I watched the film without recording it to disc.  Wow!  Was I in for a surprise!  This is a VERY good movie, far above the average "B" film; in fact, I easily determined that it's one I want to own, so after watching one time, I went back and watched again, recording it to a disc as I did.

As the film begins, Bill Clark (Steve Cochran) is being released from prison after serving an 18-year sentence for murder.  Incarcerated since the age of fifteen, Bill has spent his entire adult life behind bars; he is warned by the warden that things are not going to be easy on the outside, and within hours of his release, he is experiencing the truth of those words.  Duped by a publicity-hungry reporter, Bill soon finds his picture and story plastered across the front page of the newspaper.  Knowing that he must leave town in order to make a fresh start, Bill heads to New York.

Lonely and wanting to meet someone, Bill visits a dance hall, where, for a dime a dance, he makes the acquaintance of taxi dancer, Kathy Higgins (Ruth Roman).  Despite her lack of interest in him, Bill is taken with Kathy and, wanting to spend more time with her, asks her to show him around New York.  Walking her home one evening, Bill comes face to face with Kathy's ex-boyfriend, police officer George Conover.  When Conover gets rough with Kathy, Bill springs to her defense and strikes at the man, he himself receiving a return punch which renders him unconscious for a time.  As Bill lies on the floor motionless, Kathy picks up a gun and shoots Conover, who then, wounded, makes his way from the apartment.

Upon regaining consciousness, Bill is a bit foggy about the events which took place; therefore, when Kathy tells him he shot Conover, he has no reason to doubt her.  It turns out, as Bill discovers in the next day's newspaper, Conover's wound was fatal; knowing his ex-con status will give him little credibility in a self-defense plea, Bill realizes his only chance is to run...and he does so, with Kathy by his side.

Can Bill escape his past?  Can he escape being charged with a second murder?  Does Kathy ever tell him she---not he---pulled the trigger on Conover?  These are the questions that play out in this very interesting, entertaining film.

Tomorrow Is Another Day is a fabulous film noir.  It also features a surprising amount of romance, which I found very touching.  I really liked Steve Cochran's character.  Unlike the sleazy guys he generally plays (Storm Warning, White Heat, The Best Years of Our Lives), Bill Clark was a likeable guy, one I really cared about and rooted for.  I thought Cochran was quite good in the role.  Ruth Roman spends the first 1/3 of the film as a platinum blonde...definitely a look I've never seen on her before.  Her character is a bit rough around the edges, but she has a good heart, and you can't help rooting for her as well.

This film is out on DVD, so I hope you are able to track it down.  It is definitely worth watching.

Happy viewing!!

Lightning Strikes Twice (3 stars)

Lightning Strikes Twice, from 1951, is a suspenseful romantic drama/film noir starring Ruth Roman and Richard Todd.  Despite the fact that I am not overly familiar with either star, when I saw the film's description on the TCM schedule recently, I was intrigued and decided to set my DVR; I was not disappointed.

As the film begins, Richard Trevelyan, henceforth known as Trev (Richard Todd), is about to be executed for the murder of his wife; at the last minute, however, he is given a stay and a new trial.  The re-trial results in a 6/6 indecision, so Trev is freed and, quite secretly, returns to his home, which is near the dude ranch Tumble Moon.

Stage actress Shelley Carnes (Ruth Roman), on the advice of her doctor, is taking a vacation out West and has reservations at the Tumble Moon.  Not being from the area, the only thing she knows of Trevelyan---or the murder case---is what is printed in the local newspaper.

With the ranch being some miles from where the bus left her off, Shelley must drive the remaining distance, and while doing so---on a dark and rainy night---her car gets stuck in the mud of an unpaved road.  Spying a house nearby, Shelley makes her way to the front door and is soon let in by a man---Richard Trevelyan---who is the only person in the house.  After informing Shelley of his identity, Trev lets her know she is welcome to spend the night in the den, which she does.  Though there is a lock on the door, Shelley doesn't use it, allowing Trev to enter the room in the middle of the night, so as to cover her with a blanket.

Though Trev is gone when Shelley wakens in the morning, she cannot help wondering about him.  By the time their paths cross again, Shelley, convinced the man did not kill his wife, longs to help him prove his innocence; Trev, however, tells her to just let it be.  Eventually, Trev and Shelley fall in love and decide to marry; however, on their wedding night, Shelley begins to believe that her husband did, in fact, kill his first wife...a thought that terrifies her and sends her running from him. 

Did Trev really kill his wife?  Was a guilty man mistakenly released from prison?  Does he intend to harm his new wife?  These are the questions that play out in this mildly suspenseful romantic drama.

Lightning Strikes Twice is definitely an interesting, exciting film.  While it isn't a spectacular movie, nor are its stars among my favorites, I, nevertheless, found the film quite enjoyable.  It's one of those films that really keeps you guessing...did he kill his wife?  Is his new wife in danger?  Right up until the very end, you just didn't know.  I've probably only seen Richard Todd in one other film (The Hasty Heart), so I really don't know much about him, but I certainly like him here.  I thought he was very good in his role...and I love his gentle Irish  accent!  I've seen Ruth Roman in only three or four films, so I'm not overly familiar with her either...but I enjoyed here here as well.  I think she and Mr. Todd worked quite well together.

This is, without question, a very solid 3-star film, which I definitely recommend.  Since it is out on DVD, I think it should be fairly easy to track down.

Happy viewing!!