TODAY WE LIVE

US, 1933, 113 minutes. Black and white.
Joan Crawford, Gary Cooper, Robert Young, Franchot Tone, Roscoe Karns.
Directed by Howard Hawks.

Today We Live is based on a story by William Faulkner. While it focuses on an American, it is the story of an American in England as well as fighting the war in France. He enlists before America is involved in World War One.

The central character is played by Gary Cooper. On arrival in England to occupy a stately mansion during the war, he encounters the daughter of the owner. She is played by Joan Crawford with British accent. Franchot tone is her brother and Robert Young is her boyhood friend.

The film has some sequences in England but the focus is on warfare in France. Gary Cooper portrays a pilot who is listed as dead in action, but in fact has survived. He comes to find Joan Crawford but she is already in a relationship with Robert Young. There are some aerial sequences where Cary Cooper takes Robert Young into the air. There are some boat-sabotage sequences where Franchot Tone and Gary Cooper take Gary Cooper on their expedition. Robert Young is blinded – and realising that Joan Crawford loves Gary Cooper, he organises a final fatal work of sabotage where he and Franchot tone are killed.

The film was directed by Howard Hawks, always interested in aerial films like Hell’s Angels as well as Only Angels Have Wings. The film was made only fifteen years after the action it describes.

1. The work of William Faulkiner? His stories? Personal relationships? World War One? The American view of the UK and of France during World War One? American involvement?

2. The workds of Howard Hawks, war and aerial combat films, films about planes about services? The tough US style?

3. 1933, the black and white photography, camera techniques, the UK sets, the homes, France, warfare? Aerial warfare and the naval sabotage? The musical score?

4. The title, as it applies during wartime and living in the present? Surviving

5. The focus on Richard, his American background, coming to the UK, involvement in the war, his plan, occupying the house, his meeting with Anne? Their discussions, her not telling him of her father’s death, his looking at her father’s office? Getting the information about the father’s death? The servants and their behaviour?

6. Diana, known as Anne, her family, the impact of the death of her father, stiff upper lip? The photos?

7. Claude and Ronnie, the bonds between them and Anne? Their past and growing up together? Claude and his proposal? The relationship?

8. Ronnie and Claude going to war, the boats, their work of sabotage? Claude and his drinking? Ronnie looking after him? Protecting him?

9. Anne going to the war, her service in France, meeting up again with Claude and Ronnie, the proposal, living with Claude? His drinking?

10. The news of Richard’s death, Anne and her falling in love with Richard in England, their bike rides? The report of his death, her grief? Her decision to be with Claude?

11. Richard and his arrival, its effect on Anne? His discovering the truth about her relationship with Claude? His attitude? Claude and his drinking, Richard taking him home?

12. Anne and her grief, Claude knowing the truth about Richard? Ronnie and his discussions with Anne?

13. Richard taking Claude on the flight, the danger, Richard’s motivation, the bomb, the bombardment, the landing?

14. Richard, his friendship with Mc Ginnis? Their banter? Mc Ginnis and his more humorous handling of Richard? His being on the plane, the bomb and the landing?

15. Claude, on the boat, the attack, the sabotage, his being shot, blindness? Going to the doctor, accepting his fate?

16. Claude and his decision about the boat, the plan with Ronnie, the note to Anne?

17. Anne, receiving the note, phoning Richard? His flying to do the mission? The two men arriing before him? Crashing onto the boat and destroying it?

18. The ending, the experience of war, the happy ending for Richard and Anne? A retrospect of the war after fifteen years?