SOMEWHERE I'LL FIND YOU
US, 1942, 108 minutes, Black-and-white.
Clark Gable, Lana Turner, Robert Sterling, Patricia Dane, Reginald Owen, Lee Patrick, Charles Dingle, Van Johnson, Keenan Wynn, Leonid Kinski, Keye Luke, Sara Haden, Rags Ragland, Grady Sutton.
Directed by Wesley Ruggles.
Somewhere I’ll Find You is a film of its time, released in the latter part of 1942, in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor and the rapid Japanese expansion in the Pacific, especially in the Philippines.
It is a story of journalists, war correspondents, commentary on articles from Europe at the outbreak of World War II, the attitude of appeasement by some American editors, as well as postings in Indochina and the Philippines, and reporting from the front in the Philippines and the loss of Bataan.
It is also a romance, beginning with two brothers in conflict over their love for the one woman, but this is resolved fairly quickly, but with the woman infatuated by the older brother, throwing herself at him, his acceptance and then moving on, her going to Hanoi as a reporter, her becoming involved in the smuggling of children out of China, going to Manila and war reports. As might be expected, the unhappy and unlucky suitor is killed in action.
The cast is strong, with Clark Gable and his charm as the older brother, Robert Sterling as the younger, and Lana Turner, early in her career, as the woman in love.
There is a very strong supporting cast with Charles Dingle as the recalcitrant editor, Lee Patrick and Reginald Owen as an older couple who are friends with the reporters, and Van Johnson and Keenan Wynn in very early performances turning up at the end of the film with significant roles in the attack on the Japanese forces and their landing.
The film ends with battle sequences, but also with a very patriotic sequence where Clark Gable dictates an article praising the heroism of the dead soldiers and insisting that their names be recorded.
1. A film of its time? The US, before declaring war on Japan, appeasement for Germany, ignoring Japan? Pearl Harbor? The aftermath?
2. Newspaper journalists, publication, the perspectives? In Europe? In the United States? In the Far East, Hanoi, Manila?
3. Black-and-white photography, New York settings, apartments, restaurants, newspaper offices, the contrast with Indochina, city of Hanoi, jungle, Manila? The battle sequences in Bataan? Musical score?
4. The cast, Clark Gable as a romantic hero, Lana Turner early in her career, the strong supporting cast?
5. The editor, appeasement, Jonny and Kirk, in Germany for three years, point of view, getting the editor to read the article, taping it, putting it as a headline, hold over the editor and embarrassing him?
6. Kirk, his relationship with Paula, talking with Jonny, going home, Edie and Willie, the stockings advertisements? Friends of the two young men?
7. Jonny going to his room, Paul in the shower, their meeting, the memories of the past, the romance? Going out with Jonny, the restaurant? Jonny talking with Kirk, Jonny being harsh on Paula? Disappointment, clash?
8. Paula and the assignment to the Far East? Not wanting to take it, hoping Jonny would ask her to stay? The kiss goodbye?
9. Jonny, the job, letters to the editor, the two brothers coming back, sent to Hanoi to find Paula, the contact with the veteran journalist, information, going up country, Paula and the child refugees, her collapse, listening to Jonny, his care for her?
10. Manila, Jonny and his drinking, Crystal and the pickup, Paula arriving, Jonny getting Kirk and Paula to sail to Australia?
11. Jonny on the front, the officers and their talk, the Japanese landing, the battle, the deaths? Kirk and his dying? The strong battle sequences?
12. Jonny, dictating the story, remembering the names, Paula arriving, surviving, their being together?
13. The significance of this kind of propaganda film making and release in 1942?
