A. Edward Sutherland (1895–1973)

“Everything seems faint, and far away, except loving people.” — Charles Winninger

This warm and sensitive film often gets classified as a Christmas story, but its tender message is much more far-reaching, making it a fine film to watch anytime. Adele Comandini wrote the screenplay from a story Mildred Gram helped fashion. Some beautiful cinematographer from Lester White and a lovely score by Frank Tours help create a very special film with a gentle mood and sentimental regard for the show more hereafter. A wonderful cast help give this film a charm and glow many films with much larger budgets could not during this era.

It is Christmas Eve as the film opens, and three lonely old men who’ve been friends and business partners for most of their lives are waiting for company which never comes. Michael O’Brien (Charles Winninger), Allan Chadwick (C. Aubrey Smith), and George Milton (Harey Carey) each put ten dollars in a wallet and throw it out the window onto the snowy sidewalk. Michael has bet against the gloomy George, believing someone will pick it up and bring it to them.

Enter singing Texas cowboy James Houston (Richard Carlson). His worn out boots are an indication of how things are going for him, and when the sweet Jean Lawrence (lovely Jean Parker) rings the bell a few minutes later to return one of the wallets, the kindly old men try to play matchmaker.

It is wonderful to watch the three men come to life. Maria Ouspenskaya, who many horror fans will remember as the gypsy fortune teller from Universal’s The Wolfman, is quite moving as their maid. She is actually Russian Royalty, but discovered after fleeing for her life that there was more joy in caring for others. Alex Melesh is also good also as their kindly butler, Joseph. Helen Vinson, a star during the 1930s, is perfect as scheming singing star Arlene Terry, who has no qualms about keeping James from his loving sweetheart, Jean. When tragedy strikes, it becomes a race with time to get the two together.

It is the widely held opinion of film historians and buffs alike that Jean Parker was very special, and should have gotten better roles. She truly shines in Beyond Tomorrow and displays that something unique which separated her from other female stars. The romance between she and Carlson has a sweet charm missing from today’s films.

It is quite moving where everyone ends up in this film, but I can say no more. This is a tender and lovely film that can certainly be enjoyed during Christmastime, but not necessarily one which is exclusive to that most sentimental time of year. Few films are as ultimately touching as this one, and it should be more heralded than it is. A small gem. show less

2025 movie #158. 1941. Steel-worker brothers (Nolan and Stevens) fall for the same girl (noir chick Alexis Smith), tearing apart their family. But when a sleet storm threatens the bridge they're working on, they save the day and each other. A weirdly comic and enjoyable B-movie.

Jim "Lucky" Moore (Allan Jones), an insurance salesman, comes up with a novel policy for his friend, Steve (Robert Cummings): a 'love insurance policy', that will pay out $1-million if Steve does not marry his fiancée, Cynthia (Nancy Kelly). The upcoming marriage is jeopardized by Steve's ex-girlfriend, Mickey (Peggy Moran), and Cynthia's disapproving Aunt Kitty. The policy is underwritten by a nightclub owner, Roscoe (William Frawley), who sends two enforcers - Abbott and Costello - to show more ensure that the wedding occurs as planned. Everyone involved in the situation winds up sailing or flying to San Marcos (a fictional South American country), where another complication arises, when Lucky falls for Cynthia. Lucky winds up marrying Cynthia, but Roscoe does not have to pay the $1-million because Steve ends up marrying Mickey. show less

2023 movie #130. 1942. O'Brien and his gun crew get assigned to a merchant marine ship. Also on board is his sister (Wyatt, a Navy nurse) and her boyfriend (Murphy, in the gun crew). They fight Nazis. Nice little propaganda film, very popular when released.