REMEMBER THE DAY

John Payne and Claudette Colbert

REMEMBER THE DAY (1941). Director: Henry King.

"Remember when Dan and I took the train together. I was so proud of him in his uniform." -- Dewey

"The House of Representatives will never pass an income tax plan." -- the Dean

Teacher Nora Trinell (Claudette Colbert) waits at a Washington reception to renew her acquaintanceship with an old pupil, Dewey Roberts (Sheppard Strudwick), who is now a Presidential nominee. She thinks back to when Dewey was a boy (Douglas Croft) and developed a big crush on her, even as she became secretly married to another teacher, Dan (John Payne), who goes off to war. One might wonder why this woman would want to go see a man that she hasn't been in contact with since he was a boy -- presidential nominee or no -- but it is made clear in a scene between Nora, Dewey and his wife, (Frieda Inescort) at the very end of the picture. Remember the Day is a lovely and touching film with excellent performances from Colbert, Payne [The Crooked Way] and especially young Douglas Croft [George Washington Slept Here], the screen's first Robin (of Batman and Robin), who nearly walks off with the movie. (Tragically, Croft died at only 37 years of age, which adds another poignant element to the picture.) There are other fine performances from Anne Revere as another teacher; Jane Seymour and Harry Hayden as Dewey's parents; Steve O'Brien as a bellboy; and William Henderson and Ann E. Todd as students; Marie Blake and Chick Chandler are also in the cast.

Verdict: Sentimental in the right way. ***1/2.