And Now Tomorrow

I don't usually like Loretta Young, but I admit when actors or actresses I don't care for give objectively good performances. Loretta plays a deaf woman, ill with meningitis, and she's very good. Her eyes are glued to her fellow actors' lips, and when they turn away from her for a moment, she gets a bewildered look on her face until they return to face her. She wipes the fear and shame away and asks, even though it humiliates her to do it, them to repeat themselves. It's very realistic and natural.

When she falls ill, Loretta breaks her engagement to Barry Sullivan, so that his quality of life isn't diminished for having to care for a sick person. Alan Ladd, a new, unknown doctor, wants to experiment on Loretta to see if he can cure her, and in the many months of the treatment, Barry falls in love with Loretta's sister, Susan Hayward.

And Now Tomorrow is very similar to Dark Victory, so if you liked one, there's a good chance you'll like the other. Part medical drama, part love story, and chalk full of beautiful clothes from Edith Head, this is an overlooked classic that's great to watch with a bowl of popcorn on a rainy afternoon.

And Now Tomorrow was the second of two films that Alan Ladd did with Loretta Young. The first one was China an action/adventure wartime potboiler of a film. It was Alan Ladd's type of film that was made just before he was drafted. It was also not one of his best. And Now Tomorrow is more Loretta's kind of film and while it's better than China it will never be ranked as in the top ten for either Ladd or Young.

This one is a medical soap opera, the only time Ladd ever did one of these kind of films in his career. Young is a socialite who never thought about social problems in the town that she was brought up in which incidentally is named after her family, the town's chief employer. They own a mill from which Ladd's father was fired years ago. Now all grown up Ladd's got class resentments.

And he's back in his hometown at the behest of Dr. Cecil Kellaway who has heard of his experiments with curing deaf people who got it as a result of spinal meningitis. That's what gave Young her deafness and among other things postponed her marriage to another yuppie Barry Sullivan.

The main focus in this film is the growing mutual attraction between doctor and patient despite all their differences. A subplot also involves Sullivan seeing Young's sister Susan Hayward on the side.

And Now Tomorrow is kind of a secular version of Magnificent Obsession without all the religious folderol that Lloyd C. Douglas put into his work involved. For those who like soap opera type films And Now Tomorrow will do. Young made a ton of these in her career, but it wasn't Alan Ladd's cup of tea.

Although she got second billing to Ladd, Young's articulate smooth projection of her character shines in this movie. Ladd probably got the top spot because in 1944 all men were fighting overseas leaving the women to make up the majority of the audience. Still, his portrayal is very believable as one who has humble beginnings yet rises in the class structure while still showing rough edges. The poor boy and rich girl theme is not as boring as it seems. The Ladd-Young interaction works well as their characters develop a reluctant caring for one another.

The supporting cast and crew represent a Hollywood Who's Who at the time. Beulah Bondi is one of the great supporting actors of the 30s and 40s. Her appearances while cameo always added depth to her films. Susan Hayward is superb as the brash assertive sister. One could go on: Barry Sullivan with his mellow distinctive voice; costumes by Edith Head, one of the great ladies of Hollywood; music by Victor Young.

Yes, the movie is dated. The Great Depression looms in the background. But that is also its strength. Seldom was the Depression ever directly mentioned in the cinema. It truly was one of the most formative experiences of American life because it affected the entire population. While class envy always existed in our collective culture class hatred never engendered much support. This movie touches on this with sophistication.

Alan Ladd and Loretta Young were teamed up again after starring together in China 1943. Both are well suited to their roles in And Now Tomorrow. Ladd, as the hard working doctor, who works at a Pittsburgh free clinic. Young, as the wealthy heiress, who travels the globe. looking for a cure for her deafness.

Dr. Vance (Ladd) arrives at the home of his friend and mentor, Dr. Meeks (Cecil Kellaway), who asks Lance for a favor. He wants Vance to use his new methods of curing hearing loss on socialite, Emily Blair. Vance refuses, saying he is much to busy helping the poor. However, Vance does have a grudge with the Blair family. He doesn't like that they live like royalty, while the people who work their mills, live difficult lives. Furthermore, Vance's father had a run in with Emily's father years before and was fired.

Yet, with a twinkle in his eye, Vance agrees to dine at the Blair palace with Dr. Meeks. During the evening, Dr. Vance and Emily are alone together. Vance mentions Dr. Meeks plan to have him help Emily. She is startled and amused. She has traveled the globe to find a cure for her deafness. How could this doctor, a man no one has heard of, help her? Vance had expected such a response. He gets up to leave and says, "Deafness isn't the only thing I'd like to cure you of."

Dr. Meeks eventually gets Vance to agree to treat Emily. It's a long procedure that will take months and may not be successful. Initially the two are at odds with each other. Vance doesn't think the Blair's wealth enables Emily to show up late for appointments. Emily thinks Vance is lacking in manners.

A pivotal part of the movie occurs when Dr. Vance is called to shantytown to look at a man's (Anthony Caruso) sick child. Emily is with Vance and helps him perform an emergency operation. Emily gets to see a different world first hand. Vance is impressed that Emily comes through in the clutch. As a side note, it's not the first or last time Caruso appeared in a Alan Ladd film. Caruso was a busy, talented actor, who appeared in ten Alan Ladd films. It wasn't a coincidence. When Ladd and Caruso were struggling actors they sat together at an audition. Afterwards, Caruso asked Ladd to lunch, but Ladd was broke and had to refuse. Caruso's father stepped in and bought lunch. Ladd never forgot the act of kindness and gave Caruso a part in his films if he could. And Caruso couldn't believe the loyalty you just don't find in Hollywood.

Unfortunately, the treatments aren't working on Emily. Vance decides to go back to the clinic in Pittsburgh. Emily, gets back to her life and her fiance (Barry Sullivan). She plans to get married and is resigned to the fact she will never be cured. On the eve of her wedding Emily learns that Vance has had a success with a new method. She rushes to Vance and begs him to try the method on her, although it hasn't been tested on humans. He relents, and gives her the treatment. She reacts badly and collapses. There is a fear she won't live, but she survives.

The next morning Emily wakes to learn she can now hear. She soon learns her fiance has been having an affair with her sister. The wedding is officially off. She rushes to Pittsburgh to thank Dr. Vance. She phones him from his outer office, commenting he has a lovely voice. He realizes that she can hear and that his treatment has worked. She informs him the wedding is off and she'd like to repay him. They embrace.

It's an excellent film with many strong performances. The plot wobbles occasionally, but the cast really holds things together. Young gives her usual excellent performance. Both Susan Hayward and Barry Sullivan are excellent in small roles. But for me, it's Ladd's work that is most enjoyable. Years ago, film critics, like Bosley Crowther, delighted in telling us what a terrible actor Ladd was. Later, authors of film history books repeated the same old legends. Even noted television hosts, like Dick Cavett, would ridicule his talents. Funny thing is audiences enjoyed his work and flocked to his films for 20 years. He has always been one of my favorites. I guess I always made my own decisions on what was good and what I liked. Alan Ladd was simply one of the best.

....must one (wo)man have Before he (she) can hear people cry ?(Dylan)

Emily may be deaf ,but as a spoiled child from the high society ,she is mainly deaf to her less fortunate fellow men,as her father and family were (the short Christmas flashback may seem irrelevant but it makes sense in that context).Good doctor Alan Ladd -a very Borzagesque character- is her contrary:he was not born silver spoon in hand ,he made it by the sweat of his brow and afterward ,he did not let the Poor down.Emily does not realize it ,but Dr Merek Vance is first a soul doctor.He tells him so several times but she's so selfish she is only busy looking after herself.The turning point in her life is the night the physician,with her by his side,saves a child's life .You can go as far as to say that ,beyond that point,she is not "deaf" anymore.

This is a fine melodrama,with a stellar cast including one of the future stars of the genre ,Susan Hayward as Emily's sister.

Like this? try these......

"Magnificent Obsession" J.M .Stahl,1935;Douglas Sirk,1954.

"Green light" Frank Borzage ,1937

"Doctor's wives " Frank Borzage ,1931