Review of Now, Voyager (1942) by Kevin M. W — 17 Aug 2011

Ah, "Now, Voyager" is QUITE a soap opera. Charlotte (Davis) is a spinster leaving with her domineering mother (Cooper) in the 1940's. Charlotte is extremely unhappy, because she has no social life or relationship because of a) her mom and b) (most likely) her looks.

Her sister (Chase) becomes worried about her, and enlists psychiatrist Dr. Jaquith (Rains). While spending a while with him at his facility, Charlotte comes out of her shell and becomes a new, independent person, and most of all, she gets a good makeover, and immediately attracts a man named Jerry (Henreid).

Jerry is already married, but they love each other but of course, the rest of the movie is the tortured Charlotte not being able to find love. Boo hoo. Bette Davis has made tons and tons of movies, most are classics, but what it always comes down to is "Now, Voyager" is the biggest chick-flick of all, so I can say for me this is a guilty pleasure I don't want anyone to find out about.

This movie is very very dramatic let me warn you, and there's a bunch of tense family scenes, but this film is so appealing as a classic movie that it's no problem. Bette Davis steps down from her "beeotch" roles that she mostly was nominated for, and at the same time this was the last film she was nominated for in the 1938-1942 period.

This is one of her best performances because it is not only subtle, but not at all as nutty as many of her other roles, and at the same time Henreid really does a good job next to her strong presence.

And Gladys George as the "smother" is a character you'll love to hate. Then there's the cigarette scenes, and the score that there's not much to dislike about this film. "Now, Voyager" is a wonderfully acted drama, but I think Davis' "The Petrified Forest" is more up my alley.