Programme Notes
Monday 30th August 7.30pm
Now, Voyager (U)
A welcome re-release for this terrific emotional drama, first released in 1942. In one of the greatest performances of her career, Bette Davis stars as Charlotte Vale, a troubled young woman who defies her domineering mother to discover love, heartbreak and, eventually, contentment. The film’s depiction of mental health issues and the treatments available is remarkably enlightened for its time. After years of emotional abuse from a domineering family, Charlotte is close to a breakdown when she is introduced to psychiatrist Dr Jaquith, and spends time in his sanatorium. With enlightened guidance and therapy, Charlotte gets better, gains confidence and independence and blossoms into an elegant and beautiful woman. On a cruise, she meets a handsome fellow-passenger, architect Jerry Durrance, and they fall in love. Although he is unhappily married, they both know that his honour and decency means they have no future together. This is a lush, intense, romantic drama that has it all. Bette Davis showcases all her talent and charisma in portraying Charlotte’s fairytale transformation from vulnerable, anxious spinster to glamorous, sophisticated and independent woman. Paul Henreid as Jerry and Claude Rains as Dr Jaquith provide fine support. Wonderfully scripted and directed, it radiates desire and yearning, yet it was chaste enough to pass the censor in the days of the Hays code. Max Steiner’s lush Oscar-winning orchestral score beautifully reflects the emotional development of the narrative. Despite being dismissed by some in the 1950s as a “woman’s picture”, Now, Voyager stands up today as a fine psychological drama and an inspiring tale of female physical and spiritual transformation. With a crisp new 2K digital restoration by Warner Brothers, and re- released by BFI, this is the perfect opportunity to wallow in an undisputed classic of Hollywood’s golden age.
REVIEWS Bette Davis gives a consummate performance as the lifelong spinster emerging from her confining chrysalis into the arms of Paul Henreid in this lush, beautifully acted movie. One of the all-time great weepies, it has gone down in the annals of cinema history for Henreid's lighting of two cigarettes scene and a tear-jerking speech from Davis, at her best in front of a moonlit sky. Irving Rapper's direction is suitably grand and cinematographer Sol Polito lights everything with an almost magical touch. This is a movie in which all the elements come together in perfect harmony to give an essentially hackneyed theme the imprint of greatness. Sue Heal, Radio Times
It was released during wartime, and though there is nothing in it about the war ... the war makes relevant its themes of self-sacrifice and transcending one’s own emotional unhappiness. At the same time, it is almost ecstatically driven by unhappiness: emotional rocket fuel. Davis’s performance is at once spiky and angular and yet also soft, sensual and vulnerable. The excellent Henreid is perfectly cast. This film is exquisitely crafted and passionately acted. Peter Bradshaw, Guardian A remarkably forward-thinking motion picture, it tackles mental health and well-being with a frankness and compassion uncommon for the time of its production. Though it must be said that some extraneous elements of the plot are rather over the top and frankly a little ridiculous in places, the treatment of its core issues, and an enlightened examination of non-traditional family dynamics and motherhood, remain pertinent and affecting eighty years hence … Without ever being overly saccharine, this restraint, a subversion of convention, and the introduction in the film’s latter stages of a character who unites Charlotte and Jerry, brings this classic melodrama to its harmonious, albeit unexpected, much-quoted conclusion. Matthew Anderson, CineVue
Cast Crew
Bette Davis Charlotte Vale Director Irving Rapper Paul Henreid Jerry Durrance Writers Casey Robinson (screenplay), Olive Claude Rains Dr Jaquith Higgins Prouty (novel) Gladys Cooper Mrs Vale Producer Hal B Wallis Bonita Granville June Vale Cinematography Sol Polito John Loder Elliot Livingston Editing Warren Low Ilka Chase Lisa Vale Music Max Steiner Lee Patrick Deb McIntyre
Film Facts
Both Bette Davis and Gladys Cooper were nominated for Oscars (Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively). However Now, Voyager won only one, Best Music for Max Steiner’s score. The title comes from the short Walt Whitman poem, “The Untold Want” from Songs of Parting. Charlotte reads the poem just before leaving Cascade: "The untold want, by life and land ne’er granted, Now, Voyager, sail thou forth, to seek and find.” The film had a shooting schedule of only 42 days, incredibly short by today’s standards. Filming went a few weeks over schedule, which caused some conflicts with Casablanca, which also starred Claude Rains and Paul Henreid. The movie’s famous line, “Oh, Jerry, don't let's ask for the moon. We have the stars.” was voted number 46 in the top 100 movie quotes of all time by the American Film Institute. The initial casting choices for Charlotte were Irene Dunne, Norma Shearer and Ginger Rogers. When Bette Davis learned about the project, she campaigned for and won the role. More than any other of her previous films, Davis became absorbed in the role, not only reading the original novel, but also becoming involved in details such as choosing her wardrobe personally.
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