Eternally Yours (1939)

Anita Halstead, swept off her feet by magician Arturo, finds the results less than magical.

Director:

Tay Garnett

Writers:

Gene Towne (original screenplay), C. Graham Baker (original screenplay)

Stars:

Loretta Young, David Niven, Hugh Herbert

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Loretta Young	...	Anita Halstead
David Niven	...	Tony aka The Great Arturo
Hugh Herbert	...	Benton
Billie Burke	...	Aunt Abby
C. Aubrey Smith	...	Gramps aka Bishop Peabody
Raymond Walburn	...	Mr. Harley Bingham
Zasu Pitts	...	Mrs. Cary Bingham
Broderick Crawford	...	Don Burns
Virginia Field	...	Lola De Vere
Eve Arden	...	Gloria
Ralph Graves	...	Mr. Morrisey
Lionel Pape	...	Mr. Howard
Fred Keating	...	Master of Ceremonies

Storyline

Anita, engaged to solid Don Barnes, is swept off her feet by magician Arturo. Before you can say presto, she's his wife and stage assistant on a world tour that seems never to end. Anita is mildly annoyed by Arturo's constant flirtations, but his death-defying stunts give her nightmares. As for her plan to retire in a farmhouse, forget it. Finally, she's had enough and disappears for real...

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Plot Keywords:

public domain

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Taglines:

She lived at the edge of life - with out-stretched arms . . . too short to reach it! Romance - a baffling reality.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 March 1940 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Aionia diki sou

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walter Wanger Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min 89 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The failure of the original copyright holder to renew the film's copyright resulted in it falling into public domain, meaning that virtually anyone could duplicate and sell a VHS/DVD copy of the film. Therefore, many of the versions of this film available on the market are either severely (and usually badly) edited and/or of extremely poor quality, having been duped from second- or third-generation (or more) copies of the film.

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Quotes

Anita Halstead: What if the parachute didn't open?
Tony Halstead: Darling, all parachutes are guaranteed to open. If it doesn't, they give you a new one.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits are shown on sheets of stationery, through which someone seems to be flipping.

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Soundtracks

"ETERNALLY YOURS"
Music by Werner Janssen
Lyrics L. Wolfe Gilbert
Sung behind credits by unknown male singer

User Reviews

Pleasing and Charming, David Niven Carries it Home

I saw this on an AMC DVD. It was not a very good print. Most scenes looked somewhat muddy. I hope someone releases a better print someday.

There is a lot of talent in bit parts here: Billie Burke, Eve Arden, Hugh Herbert, Zasu Pitts, and Broderick Crawford each contribute a few minutes of pleasantness.

I wasn't all that impressed with Loretta Young. She was fine, but I didn't see anything special that she brought to her role. On the other hand, David Niven was quite impressive. He brought just the right tone of bravado and cool to his part of a dare devil magician.

James Bond writer, Ian Flemming, wanted David Niven to play James Bond. You can see why from this film. He is handsome and suave in the Cary Grant manner, but he's also sly and intense. When he does a handcuffed falling out of a plane stunt, one really feels his fright and nervousness.

Niven did end up playing James Bond in the spoof "Casino Royale" (1967), but by that time he was about ten years too old for the part.

The movie jumps a bit. It looks like they edited out a number of scenes. Still, it is fast paced, clever and surprising. I recommend it, but I hope they come out with a better print.