Now, Voyager (1942)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Irving Rapper

Writers:

Casey Robinson (screenplay)
Olive Higgins Prouty (novel)

Release Date:

22 October 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Today Her Greatest! For a woman there's always an excuse . . .

Plot:

Boston spinster blossoms under therapy and finds impossible romance.

Plot Keywords:

Spinster | Cruise | Heart Attack | Love Affair | Domineering Mother

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Bette Davis	...	Charlotte Vale
Paul Henreid	...	Jerry Durrance
Claude Rains	...	Dr. Jaquith
Gladys Cooper	...	Mrs. Henry Windle Vale
Bonita Granville	...	June Vale
John Loder	...	Elliot Livingston
Ilka Chase	...	Lisa Vale
Lee Patrick	...	'Deb' McIntyre
Franklin Pangborn	...	Mr. Thompson
Katharine Alexander	...	Miss Trask (as Katherine Alexander)
James Rennie	...	Frank McIntyre
Mary Wickes	...	Nurse Dora Pickford
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tod Andrews	...	Dr. Dan Regan (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
David Clyde	...	William (uncredited)
Frank Dae	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Yola d'Avril	...	Celestine (uncredited)
Donald Douglas	...	George Weston (uncredited)
Charles Drake	...	Leslie Trotter (uncredited)
Claire Du Brey	...	Hilda (uncredited)
Elspeth Dudgeon	...	Aunt Hester (uncredited)
Bill Edwards	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Mary Field	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Woman at Concert (uncredited)
Reed Hadley	...	Henry Montague (uncredited)
Sheila Hayward	...	Katie (uncredited)
Bill Kennedy	...	Hamilton Hunneker (uncredited)
George Lessey	...	Uncle Herbert (uncredited)
Lester Matthews	...	Captain (uncredited)
Corbet Morris	...	Hilary (uncredited)
Tempe Pigott	...	Mrs. Smith (uncredited)
Hilda Plowright	...	Justine (uncredited)
Frank Puglia	...	Giuseppe (uncredited)
Constance Purdy	...	Rosa (uncredited)
Georges Renavent	...	M. Henri (uncredited)
Dorothy Vaughan	...	Woman (uncredited)
Janis Wilson	...	Tina Durrance (uncredited)
Isabel Withers	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Ian Wolfe	...	Lloyd (uncredited)
Charlotte Wynters	...	Grace Weston (uncredited)

Directed by
Irving Rapper

Writing credits
Casey Robinson		(screenplay)
Olive Higgins Prouty		(novel)

Produced by
Hal B. Wallis	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Max Steiner

Cinematography by
Sol Polito		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Warren Low

Art Direction by
Robert M. Haas		(as Robert Haas)

Set Decoration by
Fred M. MacLean

Costume Design by
Orry-Kelly		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist

Sound Department
Robert B. Lee	....	sound

Special Effects by
Willard Van Enger	....	special effects

Stunts
Audrey Scott	....	stunt double: Bette Davis (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	musical director
Hugo Friedhofer	....	orchestral arrangements

Other crew
Edward A. Blatt	....	dialogue director (as Edward Blatt)
Don Siegel	....	montages

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures (presents) (as Warner Bros. Pictures Inc. A Warner Bros. First National Picture )

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1942) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (new 35mm print)
• Warner Bros. (1947) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Portuguese

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:PG | Canada:PG (video rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #8341) | Germany:o.Al.

Filming Locations:

6621 Whitley Terrace, Whitley Heights, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Principal shooting began on April 7 1942 and ended on June 23 with some retakes shot in early July. The completed film was released at the end of October 1942 to mixed critical notices and a rapturous public reception.

Goofs:

Continuity: The position of Charlotte's mother's hand on the bed (when she is talking to Charlotte in her room after Charlotte returns from the cruise) changes between shots.

Quotes:

Jerry: Are you one of the Vales of Boston?
Charlotte: One of the lesser ones.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Counterfeit Contessa (1994) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Symphony No. 6 (Pathétique), 1st Movement

Greatest Love Story of the 1940's

From frumpy momma's unwanted adult child to liberated raving beauty, Davis is in her element in every scene. With Paul Henreid & Claude Rains, Gladys Cooper & a spot-on supporting cast, "Voyager..." is, hands down, best love story I believe I've ever seen.

Of course, taste in romances has everything to do with what a viewer finds great. I don't like phony, fantasy, goofy romantic shows at all. "Voyager..." has a gritty plot that reveals the kind of love between unrequited lovers that's worth sacrificing oneself for.

Davis' wardrobe is as fabulous in this movie as it is in "Deception," (also co-starring Claude Rains & Paul Henreid). Perhaps having both of them in both shows is what produced the mastery of all the elements in both movies. Though "Deception" is also a love story, Claude Rains coming seriously close to stealing the show from Davis.

In "Voyager..." the characters are much more egalitarian. The balance of love & despise is what makes the movies so intriguing. Davis should have taken an Oscar home for her leading role.