Now and Forever (1934)

Director:

Henry Hathaway

Writers:

Melville Baker (story)
Jack Kirkland (story)

Release Date:

31 August 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Young freewheeling wanderer Jerry Day and his beautiful wife Toni are at odds over their lifestyle....

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Little Girl

Cast

Gary Cooper	...	Jerry Day
Carole Lombard	...	Toni Carstairs Day
Shirley Temple	...	Penelope 'Penny' Day
Guy Standing	...	Felix Evans (as Sir Guy Standing)
Charlotte Granville	...	Mrs. J.H.P. Crane
Gilbert Emery	...	James Higginson
Henry Kolker	...	Mr. Clark
Tetsu Komai	...	Mr. Ling - Hotel Manager

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

When Gary Cooper first met Shirley Temple on the set of this movie, he asked her for her autograph.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jerry and Penny board the double-decker bus in New York, Penny is holding an ice cream cone and Jerry's hands are empty. But in the next shot, as Penny gets her bus transfer, Jerry is holding the ice cream cone in his right hand even though we've never seen Penny hand it to him.

Quotes:

Felix Evans: Hello, my boy. Where are you staying?
Jerry Day: Oh, uh, I hadn't decided yet. I'll look you up at the bank tomorrow.
Felix Evans: At the bank. Well, goodbye, Penny.
Penelope Day: Goodbye, Uncle Felix.
Toni Carstairs Day: And who's Uncle Felix?
Penelope Day: He's a good friend of ours. We like him. He bought one of Daddy's goldmines.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Wind at My Back: Remembrance Day (#4.7)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

The World Owes Me a Living

Shirley Away From Fox

The only Shirley Temple appeared away from Fox studios was in this loan out film to Paramount co-starring Gary Cooper and Carole Lombard. After Fox became 20th Century Fox, Darryl F. Zanuck would not lend out his biggest star and America's biggest star during those years. Now and Forever was made slightly before Temple's peak years, but she was rising fast.

Another viewer said he could not understand why Cooper and Lombard would want to be associated with this film. Very simply it was going to make money and they would also gain exposure. The challenge was holding their own against the adorable little moppet.

Cooper is a confidence man who apparently isn't as good as he thinks he is. He swindles Guy Standing, but later finds out he's actually been the one taken. Of course by that time he's reunited with his little daughter and she introduced to his new wife Carole Lombard.

Cooper just is an instinctive grifter though, content to lead life one step ahead of the law. It's not however a life that he can have a little daughter along with for the ride.

The ending here is a little darker than most Shirley Temple movies are and that makes it somewhat unique. Lombard is good, but she's somewhat subdued in this film. Best in the film besides Shirley is Guy Standing.

Not one of Cooper's best or Lombard's best, but Shirley Temple fans of every generation will probably like it, but find the film a bit strange.