{"id":20381,"date":"2011-11-04T16:31:19","date_gmt":"2011-11-04T23:31:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=20381"},"modified":"2021-01-04T17:45:44","modified_gmt":"2021-01-05T00:45:44","slug":"now-voyager-1942","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=20381","title":{"rendered":"Now, Voyager (1942)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I&#8217;m the maiden aunt; every family has one.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Poster-209x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-20382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Poster-209x300.jpg 209w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Poster-89x128.jpg 89w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Poster.jpg 331w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 209px) 100vw, 209px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nThe dowdy daughter (Bette Davis) of a domineering matriarch (Gladys Cooper) is encouraged by a friendly psychiatrist (Claude Rains) to take a trip abroad, where she transforms into a sleek and elegant young woman, and soon falls in love with a troubled married man (Paul Henreid) whose daughter (Janis Wilson) is just as insecure as Davis herself once was.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bette Davis Films<\/li>\n<li>Bonita Granville Films<\/li>\n<li>Character Arc<\/li>\n<li>Claude Rains Films<\/li>\n<li>Irving Rapper Films<\/li>\n<li>Romance<\/li>\n<li>Spinsters<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary begins his review of this &#8220;shrewdly&#8221; scripted adaptation of <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Olive_Higgins_Prouty\">Olive Higgins Prouty<\/a>&#8216;s novel by labeling it &#8220;a ridiculous soap opera that is great fun&#8221;. He refers to it as &#8220;both one of cinema&#8217;s great romances and one of the most manipulative tearjerkers about female sacrifice&#8221;, noting that it&#8217;s &#8220;full of dramatic love scenes, verbal battles, humor, tears, and, best of all, mature dialogue between Davis and men.&#8221; He calls out in particular the film&#8217;s infamous &#8220;final scene&#8221; between Davis and Henreid, featuring &#8220;Davis acting both noble and sacrificial; Max Steiner&#8217;s swelling music coaxing tears to our eyes; Henreid, for the umpteenth time, lighting two cigarettes simultaneously and handing one to Davis (their inhaling and smoky exhaling is the equivalent of sexual intercourse); and Davis delivering that beautiful last line: &#8216;Don&#8217;t let&#8217;s ask for the moon when we have the stars&#8217;.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The storyline for <em>Now, Voyager<\/em> is contrived beyond belief, but enjoyably so &#8212; if you&#8217;re willing to go along for the ride. A classic &#8220;women&#8217;s picture&#8221; (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s1639davi.html\">DVD Savant<\/a> refers to it as &#8220;the perfect distillation of narrative themes and romantic elements to attract the female audience in 1942&#8221;), <em>Now, Voyager<\/em> chronicles Davis&#8217;s magical transformation from a beetle-browed, plump spinster on the verge of a nervous breakdown, to the most popular guest on board a cruise ship &#8212; a woman unafraid to finally emerge from under the crippling dominance of her abusive mother and spread her wings, exactly how she chooses. Davis, naturally, is superb in this tricky central role, while Claude Rains is top-notch in a too-small (but critical) role as her kindly psychiatrist (if only we all had such a guardian angel\/father-figure waiting for us in the wings!). Henreid, despite Davis&#8217;s apparent initial misgivings, is finely cast as her illicit European &#8220;lover&#8221;, and Gladys Cooper is appropriately hiss-worthy as her villainous mother (as noted by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s1639davi.html\">DVD Savant<\/a>, &#8220;Not until <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=5177\"><em>Psycho<\/em><\/a> did the movies come up with as potent a horror-mother as old Mrs. Vale&#8221;).  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bette Davis as Charlotte Vale (nominated by Peary as one of the Best Actresses of the Year in his <em>Alternate Oscars<\/em>)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Davis.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Davis.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-20383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Davis.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Davis-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Davis-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Davis2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Davis2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-20384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Davis2.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Davis2-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Davis2-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Paul Henreid as Jerry<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Heinreid.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Heinreid.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-20385\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Heinreid.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Heinreid-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Heinreid-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Claude Rains as Dr. Jaquith<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Rains.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Rains.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-20386\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Rains.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Rains-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Rains-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Gladys Cooper as Mrs. Vale<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Cooper.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Cooper.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-20387\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Cooper.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Cooper-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Cooper-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Atmospheric cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Cinematography.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-20388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Cinematography.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Cinematography-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Now-Voyager-Cinematography-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a classic &#8220;women&#8217;s picture&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Genuine Classic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0035140\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1942\/10\/23\/archives\/now-voyager-with-bette-davis-paul-henreid-claude-rains-at-the.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.filmsite.org\/nowv.html\">FilmSite Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s1639davi.html\">DVD Savant Review (scroll down)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/1922\/now-voyager#articles-reviews\">TCM Articles<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Cmh4sgxoGl0\">Tired Old Queen at the Movies Video Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m the maiden aunt; every family has one.&#8221; Synopsis: The dowdy daughter (Bette Davis) of a domineering matriarch (Gladys Cooper) is encouraged by a friendly psychiatrist (Claude Rains) to take a trip abroad, where she transforms into a sleek and elegant young woman, and soon falls in love with a troubled married man (Paul Henreid) whose daughter (Janis Wilson) is just as insecure as Davis herself once was. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Bette Davis Films Bonita Granville Films Character&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=20381\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20381"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20381\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61561,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20381\/revisions\/61561"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}