Forever, Darling (1956)

Director:

Alexander Hall

Writer:

Helen Deutsch (written by)

Release Date:

9 February 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Comedy

Plot:

Susan and Lorenzo have been married for over five years and they are starting to drift apart. So into her life comes an angel...

Plot Keywords:

Angel | Wife And Husband Lead Actors | Real Life Husband And Wife Play Husband And Wife

Cast

Lucille Ball	...	Susan Vega
Desi Arnaz	...	Lorenzo Xavier Vega
James Mason	...	The Guardian Angel
Louis Calhern	...	Charles Y. Bewell
John Emery	...	Dr. Edward R. Winter
John Hoyt	...	Bill Finlay
Natalie Schafer	...	Millie Opdyke
Mabel Albertson	...	Society Reporter
Ralph Dumke	...	Henry Opdyke
Nancy Kulp	...	Amy, the Maid
Willis Bouchey	...	Mr. Oliver Clinton (as Willis B. Bouchey)
Ruth Brady	...	Laura
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Audrey Betz	...	Woman in Hall (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks	...	Man in Movie Audience (uncredited)
Jack Chefe	...	Waiter at Reception (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Wedding Reception Guest (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Wedding Guest / Dance Extra (uncredited)
Marilyn Maxwell	...	Leading Lady, Jungle Film within a Film (uncredited)
Harold Miller	...	Wedding Guest / Dance Extra (uncredited)
Hazel Pierce	...	Woman in Hall (uncredited)

Directed by
Alexander Hall

Writing credits
Helen Deutsch		(written by)

Produced by
Desi Arnaz	....	producer
Jerry Thorpe	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Bronislau Kaper

Cinematography by
Harold Lipstein

Film Editing by
Dann Cahn
Bud Molin

Art Direction by
Ralph Berger
Albert M. Pyke

Set Decoration by
Edward G. Boyle

Makeup Department
Irma Kusely	....	hair stylist
Donald W. Roberson	....	makeup artist (as Don Roberson)
Jack H. Young	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Aldworth	....	assistant director
Marvin Stuart	....	assistant director

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eloise Jensson	....	gowns: Lucille Ball (as Elois Jensson)

Music Department
Robert Franklyn	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Albert Woodbury	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Zanra Productions

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1956) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1978) (USA) (TV)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1994) (UK) (VHS)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1957) (France) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Howard Anderson Company, The (special photographic effects) (as Howard A. Anderson Co.)

Other Companies

• Glen Glenn Sound Company  sound by (as Glen Glenn Sound Co.)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

96 min | 91 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #17710) | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Motion Picture Center Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Zanra Productions

Trivia:

In crafting the film's background music, Bronislau Kaper returned to his Oscar-winning Dramatic Score for Lili (1953), took the "Adoration" theme from Leslie Caron's first dream-dance sequence (of two scenes choreographed by Charles Walters), and then Mr. Kaper interpolated the melody in this later picture. Johnny Green and His Orchestra, for MGM Records, waxed the Kaper lilt under the title "Confetti."

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: (at around 1 min) Desi Arnez comes home from work and pauses by a table and lamp to clandestinely listen to his wife and a couple invited to dinner before announcing that he is home. A few minutes later, a front shot of Desi reveals an open, wrought iron partition with a clear view of the front door and table that he was standing by, indicating his presence would have been evident from the moment he entered the house.

Quotes:

Susan:Why do you look like James Mason?
Angel:Do I look like James Mason?
Susan:I should say you do!
Angel:(admiring himself in a mirror) So I look like James Mason, do I?

Movie Connections:

Featured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997) (V)

Soundtrack:

Forever, Darling

A mostly forgettable, cheap film with a pairing of Lucy/Desi..

If there is one thing I dread more than sitting through a collection of modern bad flicks, it is those that are both old and bad. Unfortunately, many of the classics that were filmed in Hollywood's Golden Age and beyond are now mainly left forgotten, only to be pulled by those who are studying the history of film and television.

You may ask why I am reviewing such an old and mediocre film. Believe it or not, something off of Lucy prompted me to sit down and review this nostalgic, but mostly bad film. There is no doubt that I Love Lucy remains a classic show, and though I am not a fan of it or Lucy by any means, you can't deny the impact and status it has had throughout the years. This is the last of the three Lucy/Desi films and it unfortunately, is the weakest of the bunch.

If Lucy and Desi had to struggle for years on B-quality films to finally get their money's worth, Forever Darling certainly doesn't help. There are few to no laughs shown here, not even a hilarious gag or skit. The productions used are sub-standard, and just like most of Lucille Ball's other films, the sets look cheap. It was basically a comedy misfire, and there is nothing special to praise about in Forever Darling. I considered The Long, Long Trailer to be a funny but mostly average film about two of the biggest television stars of the 1950s. Nothing to get excited or look forward to. But Forever Darling takes the prize as being one of the worse films of the 1950s and early 1960s, when B-movies such as this title were being packaged and manufactured on a assembly line.

The only profit this movie got was the fans who were eager to see Lucy and Desi star in their last film together, before their marriage began to fall apart and would eventually get divorced from each other. Only fans of Lucy and Desi should see this movie, for which I am a fan of neither. It is a stretched out "I Love Lucy" sketch that failed to impress the audience. Do yourself a favor and either watch "I Love Lucy" as seen by the eyes of millions, or see the mostly average but funnier Long, Long Trailer. Forever, Darling is not the worst movie, but it certainly isn't worth mentioning if your looking for witty comedy and good chemistry.

Three out of Ten.