Specialty CollectionGenre: 1940s FEATURE FILMS
Description: IRENE DUNNE, CARY GRANT, BEULAH BONDI, EDGAR BUCHANAN, ANN DORAN, EVA LEE KUNEY, BILLY BEVAN, NEE WONG, JR, FRANK MORAN. COURTSHIP, MARRIAGE, AND THE DEATH OF TWO CHILDREN ARE RECOLLECTED BY A WOMAN CONTEMPLATING DIVORCE. WELL PLAYED BUT UNEASY FILM WHICH VEERS SUDDENLY AND DISCONCERTINGLY FROM LIGHT COMEDY INTO TRAGEDY. DUNNE IS ABOUT TO LEAVE HER HUSBAND, AND SHE PLAYS "PENNY SERENADE" ON HER VICTROLA, A TUNE WHICH TAKES HER, VIA FLASHBACK, TO THE EARLY DAYS OF THEIR MARRIAGE. HE IS A NEWSPAPER REPORTER & SHE WORKS IN A MUSIC STORE. THEY MEET, FALL IN LOVE, MARRY & GO OFF TO JAPAN WHERE HE IS ON ASSIGNMENT. SHE BECOMES PREGNANT & LOSES THE BABY WHEN THERE IS A HORRENDOUS EARTHQUAKE WHICH CAUSES A MISCARRIAGE. THEY RETURN TO U.S. & HE BUYS A SMALL NEWSPAPER IN A TRANQUIL TOWN. SHE WANTS TO HAVE CHILDREN, BUT IS NO LONGER PHYSICALLY ABLE TO, SO THEY PLAN TO ADOPT A BABY. THEY ARE IN NO POSITION FINANCIALLY, & IT LOOKS AS THOUGH IT WON'T GO THROUGH UNTIL THE HEAD OF THE ADOPTION AGENCY HELPS THEM. THEY GET THE CHILD, & RAISE HER UNTIL SHE IS 6 YRS OLD, AND THEN DIES SUDDENLY. GRIEF-STRICKEN, THEY ARE ABOUT TO PART WHEN THEY GET THE CHANCE TO ADOPT ANOTHER BABY WHICH BRINGS THEM BACK TOGETHER. DUNNE PLAYS SEVERAL RECORDS ON THE PHONOGRAPH, INCLUDING: -YOU WERE MEANT FOR ME -MOONLIGHT & ROSES BRING MEM'RIES OF YOU -POOR BUTTERFLY
