edwagreen
Inane, tedious, mad-cap adventure where a couple think back to 50 years ago.After getting a newspaper that foretells the next day's events the evening before, Dick Powell and Linda Darnell face all sorts of ridiculous adventures along with her uncle Jack Oakie.Predicting news may be dangerous especially when there is a robbery involved and Powell becomes suspect when the robbery indeed occurs.Oakie, with a penchant for predicting the future, shows right away that he is completely off when he predicts that the Republican Party has no future as William Jennings Bryan would be the next president.The ending is like a Keystone Cop-like fantasy with all the running around, as Powell tries to avoid his predicted death.
LeonLouisRicci
This Sometimes Charming Movie is Almost Ruined by the Bombastic, Over the Top Irritations by Jack Oakie. He is Insufferable Most of the Time and is Saved Only by the Beauty of Linda Darnell, Dick Powell's Engaging Performance, and a Good Story.It's Been Done Quite Often, this "knowing the future will do you no good" Plot in Countless Books, TV Shows, and Movies, but it is Almost Always Intriguing. Just What Would You Do? Of Course, Those Lottery Numbers and Race Results are Surely Going to Bring in Lots of Cash Quickly and Just as Quickly...POOF!.Overall, the Movie is Worth a Watch because it is Lively, Funny At Times, and Well Done. But Only if You Can Stand the Buffoonery and Over Ripe Slapstick and Yelling of One Jack Oakie.
Alex da Silva
Larry Stevens (Dick Powell) is a reporter who is mysteriously given the following day's newspapers by Pop Benson (John Philliber). At the same time, he begins to date Sylvia (Linda Darnell) who works as part of a stage act with Cigolini (Jack Oakie). Larry and Sylvia turn up to events that are yet to happen. What happens when Larry reads about his own death....?..The film has a good story and Dick Powell is funny as the reporter who knows it all. There are some funny scenes, eg, at the racetrack where he predicts all the winners, and when he is resigned to his own death and just has to accept it. Jack Oakie can be generally irritating but he is not so bad in this film. The cast all do well and the film is a slice of fun with a couple of twists at the end.
wes-connors
"It Happened Tomorrow" could have stood a better beginning - the choice to introduce the story with elderly Dick Powell and Linda Darnell (as Larry and Sylvia Smith) celebrating 50 years of wedded bliss sacrifices the story's surprises. The film does possess the light touch required to make the framing sequence charming. But, director René Clair and Mr. Powell build an unexpectedly good level of suspense regarding Powell's courtship, and mortality. They are so good, you can almost forget how much the opening gives away
Watch for a thoroughly delightful (and unfortunately rare) performance by sagely John Philliber (as "Pop" Benson). He plays the keeper of the "Evening News" "morgue" (a place where newspapers keep obituaries and other files). Possibly, Mr. Philliber had read his own notice; he died in 1944. Powell was also able to read the writing on the wall, and saved his fledgling career by pursuing more interesting roles (like this one). Jackie Oakie and Edgar Kennedy are also on board. This is a subtle celebration of life, and its mysteries.******** It Happened Tomorrow (5/28/44) René Clair ~ Dick Powell, Linda Darnell, John Philliber, Jackie Oakie
AD
