Tomorrow Is Forever

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Tomorrow Is Forever

Released Feb 20, 1946

1h 45m

Drama

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60%

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5 Reviews

83%

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250+ Ratings

In 1918, Elizabeth MacDonald (Claudette Colbert) learns with shock that her husband, John Andrew (Orson Welles), has been killed in the war. Elizabeth bears John's son and eventually marries her kindly boss. Unknown to her, John has survived but is horribly disfigured and remains in Europe. Years later, on the eve of World War II, Elizabeth refuses to agree to her son's request to enlist and is stunned when an eerily familiar stranger named Kessler arrives from abroad and becomes involved.

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Variety Staff

Variety

First half of the film goes from one heart-shaking sequence to another but, unfortunately Lenore Coffee in her screenplay has been unable to build to great climaxes.

Mar 26, 2009

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Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Tomorrow seems forever coming after an hour and a half of what goes on.

Mar 25, 2006

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Fannie Hurst

Modern Screen

Tomorrow Is Forever has what it takes for box office allure, from the moment the potential customer reads the come-hither advertising in the lobby.

Jun 15, 2023

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jun 23, 2005

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A weepie family drama tailor-made for Douglas Sirk that is ably but too rationally directed by Irving Pichel.

Rated: B

Apr 1, 2005

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Martin B

That's why I don't like post war, 40's era movies. My Lord that was so hyperbolically melodramatic. Love, home life, the ravages of war and the tortured decision that had to me made.all so completely over the top. Brent and Colbert played their one character actor part. Seeing a young Gig Young and Natalie Wood was interesting. What makes this move a must watch is Orson Welles showing why he is the master actor. A little over the top but watching him work his magic was spell binding. Any less a performance and this would have been a sappy failure.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/23/24

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Steve D

The actors try their best but the story is ridiculous.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/18/24

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harwee h

Overacted and overworked where a good story that is already there but not allowed to be what it is, and so was instead punctuated nearly every scene with overly emotive performances, distracting soundtrack, and bad makeup (in the case of Welles). A curio watch for being Natalie Wood's earlier film where she plays as a young girl under Welle's guardianship, and for the handsome Richard Long's first role.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/25/23

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Luca D

The movie has a great plot, but I feel as if the writing didn't quite match the greatness. Many scenes were well acted, but then others were poorly acted. The movie overall has some great messages I just feel as if the execution was botched. This movie had potential to be really good but it just doesn't feel %100.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/17/22

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Audience Member

This existential drama strikes all the right notes - albeit a bit overly melodramatic. Watch for Natalie Wood's outstanding performance, listen for Max Steiner's moving score and know that that this is an overlooked gem.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Audience Member

Nice plot, well acted. The only thing wrong was the message that it's better to live a lie than to tell the truth. John MacDonald turned out to be a coward.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Irving Pichel

Director

Claudette Colbert

Elizabeth Hamilton

Orson Welles

John Andrew MacDonald

George Brent

Lawrence 'Larry' Hamilton

Lucile Watson

Aunt Jessica Hamilton

Richard Long

John Andrew 'Drew' Hamilton

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Synopsis

In 1918, Elizabeth MacDonald (Claudette Colbert) learns with shock that her husband, John Andrew (Orson Welles), has been killed in the war. Elizabeth bears John's son and eventually marries her kindly boss. Unknown to her, John has survived but is horribly disfigured and remains in Europe. Years later, on the eve of World War II, Elizabeth refuses to agree to her son's request to enlist and is stunned when an eerily familiar stranger named Kessler arrives from abroad and becomes involved.

Director: Irving Pichel
Producer: David Lewis
Screenwriter: Gwen Bristow, Lenore J. Coffee
Distributor: Independent Releasing Organization [us]
Production Co: International Pictures Inc. [us]
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 20, 1946, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 12, 2016
Runtime: 1h 45m

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