blitzebill
i get some weird things happening to me once in a while.Spielberg's "Always," the remake of "A Guy Named Joe," was just on an Encore channel two nights ago (2/11/2009).Now here comes TCM replaying "A Guy..." right now.weird.anyway, this original is a decent film. Tracy of course shines in his performance. Van Johnson didn't seem to be into his role very much.Irene Dunne was OK.Maybe he was having an off-season for acting.but the real beauty of this film are the flying sequences. Same for "Always."here it's the P-38. And what flying!I need to buy these 2 films.there is some nice sentimentality in this film, nostalgia.it was a good idea for a film.
Michael O'Keefe
Victor Fleming directs this sentimental star-studded fantasy that takes place during World War II. Spenser Tracy plays top flying Pete Sandige, who with his buddy Al(Ward Bond), go out on a bombing mission before taking on the assignment of training young pilots. Pete's girl Dorinda(Irene Dunne)knows that his "number" is up; and drama thickens as Pete doesn't make it back. Hollywood fantasy takes over as Pete's angel guards over young pilot Ted Randall(Van Johnson)in his training; even as he romances Dorinda, who still remains devoted to his memory. Supporting cast is full of talent: Lionel Barrymore, James Gleason, Don DeFore and Esther Williams.
arieliondotcom
I disagree vehemently (okay, I need a life to get that upset about a goofy movie) with the folks who rave about Irene Dunne's performance. Tracy is GREAT. Johnson is GREAT. But Dunne is totally miscast. When she's with Tracy you're thinking "Where is HEPBURN? She'd be much better in this part!" When she's with Johnson you're thinking "Dang, she looks like his mother. She's just the wrong type for him." I think...yes, and I hate myself for saying it...that Esther Williams, who just has a bit part would have been a better choice than Dunne. Most of the movie (except for the corny ending) is good. But when they cast Irene Dunne they Dunne it wrong!
ccthemovieman-1
This is one of those old-fashioned, nice stories with generally nice people, some good lessons to be learned and some touching scenes. You just have to go with the fantasy-type theologies, in this story dead people coming back as angels-you-can see.Irene Dunne never looked better, although the soft-focus lens helped her looks. She isn't beautiful but she's wholesomely pretty, and thus appealing. Spencer Tracy gives his normal strong performance but I liked supporting actor Ward Bond in here better. Tracy gives an excellent short speech at the end of this film.The special-effects in the aviator-war scenes were not good but, hey, this film was made about 65 years ago. You could tell the planes were model airplanes on several shots.Note: this film was re-made by Steven Spielberg 40 years later under the title "Always." That was a nice film, too, but I think I'd still take this version.
AD
