Tomorrow Is Forever (1946)

An American World War I soldier, whose disfigured face is reconstructed by Austrian plastic surgeons, returns home after twenty years, but no one recognizes him, his widow is married to another man, and his son is a grown young man.

Director:

Irving Pichel

Writers:

Gwen Bristow (by), Lenore J. Coffee (screen play) (as Lenore Coffee)

Stars:

Claudette Colbert, Orson Welles, George Brent

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Claudette Colbert	...	Elizabeth Hamilton
Orson Welles	...	John Andrew MacDonald / Erik Kessler
George Brent	...	Lawrence Hamilton
Lucile Watson	...	Aunt Jessica Hamilton (as Lucille Watson)
Richard Long	...	Drew Hamilton
Natalie Wood	...	Margaret Ludwig
John Wengraf	...	Dr. Ludwig
Sonny Howe	...	Brian Hamilton
Ian Wolfe	...	Norton
Joyce Mackenzie	...	Cherry Davis (as Joyce MacKenzie)

Storyline

Elizabeth and John say goodbye as John leaves to go to war. When World War I ends, Elizabeth receives a telegram that John has been killed in action. She finds comfort in Larry and they marry. John returns 20 years later, disfigured, with a new identity, Erik, and an adopted daughter, Margaret. John/Erik and Elizabeth accidentally meet and he learns that he has a son, Drew. John must then decide whether or not to reveal his true identity.

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Plot Keywords:

queen mary the ocean liner | queen mary ship | face bandage | photograph | melodrama | 

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Taglines:

WITHIN A WOMAN'S HEART - YESTERDAY is gone.... TODAY cannot last.... and only TOMORROW is forever!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was Richard Long's film debut.

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Goofs

Lucile Watson's name is misspelled "Lucille" in the opening credits.

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Quotes

Drew Hamilton: When a new world is being born, nothing can stop it - and that's what's happening. A new world is being born. You have to make up your mind. Do you want to help it along or hold it back?

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Connections

Referenced in Wild River (1960)

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Soundtracks

Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile!
(1915) (uncredited)
Music by Felix Powell
Played during the opening scene

User Reviews

Tomorrow Can Be Wonderfully Forever ***1/2

This excellent 1946 vehicle provides Orson Welles with a role that he is most sympathetic with. Married to Claudette Colbert in this film, he is soon declared missing and dead. Colbert quickly remarries a wealthy gentleman who is most sympathetic when this apparent tragedy strikes.

Fast forward 20 years. By chance, Colbert comes across Welles in a new disguise. This is all coming about as World War 11 will envelop Europe. It appears that Welles was not killed off during World War 1, but merely was missing and apparently suffering from amnesia.

The film becomes a heartbreak after this. Both Colbert and Welles really are conflicted here. She suspects that he realizes his true identity now and he realizes that the son she bore is his.

Both Colbert and Welles put on some very fine acting here in this film where you had better have plenty of handkerchiers available.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

January 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tomorrow Is Forever

Filming Locations:

RMS Queen Mary - 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

International Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1