ETERNALLY YOURS
US, 1939, 95 minutes, Black and white.
Loretta Young, David Niven, Broderick Crawford, Hugh Herbert, Billie Burke, C. Aubrey Smith, Raymond Walburn, Zasu Pitt, Virginia Field, Eve Arden, Herman the Rabbit.
Directed by Tay Garnett.
Eternally Yours is a piece of '30s romantic fluff, a touch of the screwball comedy, with a good cast and some witty characterisations and lines.
The improbable plot concerns a bishop's daughter, played attractively by Loretta Young, the bishop being C. Aubrey Smith at his most episcopal. Billie Burke plays a relation and a young Eve Arden her friend. Broderick Crawford is cast in a dumb romantic other-man role,(rather similar to those played by Ralph Bellamy).
David Niven is the hero, playing an Italian mind reader, Orget Arturo but whose real name is Tony. F. Hugh Herbert plays his bumbling servant.
There are romantic hits and misses, some stunt work, some screwball comedy and some farcical sequences - all adding up to fluffy pleasant entertainment. Direction is by the veteran Tay Garnett, director of some romantic comedies and dramas as well as such films as The Postman Always Rings Twice.
1. A piece of romantic comedy? The 1930s? Screwball comedy-traditions?
2. Black and white photography, the stars, American and European locations, stunt work (and studio work)? musical score?
3. The title? Relationships, commitment?
4. Anita and the preparation for her marriage, her relationship to the bishop and bond with him, her friendship with Gloria and the other woman? Going to the performance, love at first sight with Tony, becoming his assistant and on tour, enjoying her role but wanting to settle down, the plan about the building of the house, Tony and his dive from the plane, her concern. Growing desperation, the note and leaving him? Going back home, meeting Don again, the possibility of marriage, the wedding on the boat? The reception, meeting Tony again, trying to cope with the situation, the mix-ups, the weekend? Her being hypnotised, the truth about her love, the ride on the river? The final jump - and happy ending?
5. Tony and David Niven's suave style, mind-reader, attraction towards Anita, on tour, the complete extrovert, wanting to roam, the thinking for Anita and not realising the truth, the impact of her leaving and his failure at the show? His relationship with his servant? The encounter with Don and Anita, seeing the tricks, the microphone for questions? With Lola? The return visit, the weekend, trying to get the truth from Anita, hypnotising her, the jump and the risk? Happy ending?
6. Don, as the romantic other man, awkward, sent up but not knowing he was being put upon?
7. The women, Anita's relation and Billie Burke, Eve Arden
and her wisecracking?
8. The bishop and his grandfatherly style, not interfering with the marriage?
9. F. Hugh Herbert and his comic style as the assistant? Bingham and his wife - Zasu Pitts and her comic flattery style along with Raymond Walburn?
10. Enjoyable romantic comedy, marriage and commitment, careers, love?
