NOBODY LIVES FOREVER

US, 1946, 100 minutes, Black and white.
John Garfield, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Walter Brennan, Faye Emerson, George Colouris, George Tobias.
Directed by Jean Negulesco.

Nobody Lives Forever is an enjoyable minor Warner Bros film of the mid-'40s. It is a star vehicle for John Garfield and Geraldine Fitzgerald as well as regular Warner Bros players led by Walter Brennan and George Colouris.

The plot is familiar: the conman who returns from the war and is set up to swindle a wealthy widow. He falls in love with her.

The strength of the film comes from John Garfield in the role and the charm of Geraldine Fitzgerald. The film was directed by Jean Negulesco, who worked at Warner Bros at this time with such interesting films as The Mask of Dimitrios, Conspirators, Three Strangers, Johnny Belinda.

1. Enjoyable thriller? Human drama?

2. Warner Bros production values, black and white photography, New York and California? Musical score?

3. The title and Pop's philosophy? As spoken by Nick?

4. Nick, the voice-over, his war experience, repatriated, going to New York? Meeting up with Al? Going to see Toni, her double-dealing, losing the money, clash with the club-owner? Decision to go to California, seeking out Pop? Plans to go back into business? Doc and his set-up? Nick's agreement, research on Gladys? Going to meet her, allegedly by accident, her company, Manning, outings, the beach, falling in love? Her charm? His deception? His change of heart, about to be discovered and backing out on the money deal? Offering to give the money back to Doc? Al and Pop and their help? Doc kidnapping Gladys, Nick's tactics to get her back, the confrontation in the room, the rescue? A happy ending? A convincing story of a streetwise conman and his change of heart?

5. Al, his continued help for Nick? Going along with the act, as the secretary, his drinking, Toni, giving her the information? In at the end?

6. Pop, his swindles in the street, age? Friendship with Nick, mediator for the fraud? Change of heart? Helping Nick, his death?

7. Gladys, the rich widow, in Los Angeles? Manning and the administration of her money? And his love for golf? Meeting Nick, charmed by him, the outings? Falling in love? The visits to the boxing, the orchestra recital, to the Spanish mission? Not believing the truth about him? Her shrewdness, the kidnap, her keeping control, the rescue?

8. Doc and his thugs? Plans, violent moods? Needing Nick, the set-up? His going back on his word, Doc's plan, the kidnapping, his henchmen and their being caught, the final shootout?

9. Toni, the glamorous blonde, using Nick's money, her double deals? Singing in clubs? Coming to California, tangling the plot? Betraying him to Doc?

10. Popular ingredients, '40s style gangsters, confidence tricksters, romance?