Never Say Goodbye (1956)

In present-day U.S., Dr. Michael Parker, a prominent surgeon, unexpectedly runs into his German-born wife whom he thought was dead. Victor, an artist and his "dead" wife's now boyfriend, ... See full summary »

Directors:

Jerry Hopper, Douglas Sirk (uncredited)

Writers:

Luigi Pirandello (play), Bruce Manning (earlier screenplay)

Stars:

Rock Hudson, Cornell Borchers, George Sanders

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rock Hudson	...	Dr. Michael Parker
Cornell Borchers	...	Lisa Gosting
George Sanders	...	Victor
Shelley Fabares	...	Suzy Parker
Ray Collins	...	Dr. Bailey
David Janssen	...	Dave Heller
Helen Wallace	...	Miss Tucker
John Wengraf	...	Prof. Zimmelman (as John E. Wengraf)
Raymond Greenleaf	...	Dr. Kelly Andrews
Max Showalter	...	Andy Leonard (as Casey Adams)
John Banner	...	Oskar, the Baker
Jerry Paris	...	Joe
Else Bäck	...	Frau Hempel (as Else Neft)
Terry Ann Rossworn	...	Suzy, age 2
Robert F. Simon	...	Dr. Kenneth Evans

Storyline

In present-day U.S., Dr. Michael Parker, a prominent surgeon, unexpectedly runs into his German-born wife whom he thought was dead. Victor, an artist and his "dead" wife's now boyfriend, berates Dr. Parker for "killing" her. The bulk of the story flashes back to Austria during World War II as we learn how Dr. Parker met and married his wife, and the one mistake that may have cost him his family.

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Plot Keywords:

surgeon | artist | girl | foreign language adaptation | husband wife relationship | 

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Taglines:

Hated by the child who was her son... and forbidden to say "I am your mother."

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 March 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nur Du allein

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.00 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Concerning his participation, Douglas Sirk said in an interview with Jon Halliday in 1971 that he did some work on preparing "Never Say Goodbye", that he brought over Cornell Borchers from Germany and that he re-shot scenes with George Sanders on the latter's and the studio's request.

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Connections

Version of Comme avant, mieux qu'avant (1972)

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Soundtracks

FOR THE FIRST TIME
Written by Jimmy McHugh
Lyrics by Harold Adamson
Performed by Cornell Borchers

User Reviews

Partly Sirk

Although widely acknowledged that parts of "Never Say Goodbye" were directed by Douglas Sirk, the credit is given to Jerry Hopper with no mention of Sirk at all. Filmographies of Sirk's work most often do not include this work.

"Never Say Goodbye" has many of the hallmarks of Sirk's work, though is much lacking in the biting social criticism that elevated his finest work. Like "Interlude" this is pure melodrama, filmed with style but ultimately forgettable.

Rock Hudson and George Sanders turn in predictably solid performances but it is Cornell Borchers an Ingrid Bergman Greta Garbo hybrid, who manages to bring a sense of truth to the more than unlikely drama, which is essential for the melodrama's success.

While obviously not in the class of the major Sirk melodrama's there is enough here of interest to followers of his work.