Thursday, March 12, 2009

IT HAPPENED TOMORROW


IT HAPPENED TOMORROW (1944). Director: Rene Clair.

A strange old man gives reporter Larry Stevens (Dick Powell) newspapers with tomorrows news before it happens. Stevens uses this to advance his career by being in the right place at the right time -- but it makes the police and others suspicious. Finally he sees a headline that has a very personal impact on his life. This is a light-hearted, superficial treatment of an interesting idea, although it has its amusing moments and there's some genuine suspense at the close. Dick Powell is okay playing a character who is not entirely admirable; Linda Darnell is pretty and pretty swell as his sweetheart, and Jack Oakie; with facial hair that somewhat softens his repulsive, potato-faced countenance, does a fine job as Darnell's father.

Verdict: Minor-league fantasy has its moments. **1/2.

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