Now and Forever (1934)

Now and Forever (1934)

„Now and Forever“ is a 1934 Black & White romantic drama crime film directed by Henry Hathaway. The screenplay by Vincent Lawrence and Sylvia Thalberg is based upon the story „Honor Bright“ by Jack Kirkland and Melville Baker.

Carefree, irresponsible Jerry Day and his second wife, Toni, are running up a bill at a Shanghai hotel that Jerry has no means to pay. So, Jerry hatches a scheme to swindle other guests, and the two escape. Desperate for more cash, Jerry is willing to sell the custody rights of his 5-year-old daughter Penelope from his first marriage, known as Penny, whom he has never met, to his former brother-in-law. Toni is shocked and goes by herself to Paris, while Cooper meets his daughter and is captivated by her, deciding to retain custody after all. Penny and Jerry arrive in Paris to be reunited with Toni. After selling a nonexistent gold mine to Felix Evans Jerry decides to re-enter the workforce as a real estate salesman, but is not successful.

Jerry meets up again with Evans, who paid with a phony check, and Evans convinces Jerry to steal a valuable necklace from Mrs. Crane, a rich lady Penny has befriended. Mrs. Crane tells Jerry that she wants to adopt Penny, and offers to throw a party for her. During the party, Jerry spots one of Mrs. Crane’s expensive necklaces lying out on her dresser and steals it. The police are called and all the guests are searched but the necklace is not found. When Penny is put to bed, she cuddles her teddy bear and discovers the necklace hidden inside. She asks Jerry if he stole it and he says no. To get her to stop crying, Toni tells Penny that it was she who took the necklace so really Jerry was telling the truth. Penny is again satisfied that her father did not lie.

Jerry brings the necklace to Evans to resell it, but starts feeling guilty when Penny throws all her faith and love towards Jerry for being honest. He goes back to try to recover the necklace and threatens Evans with a gun. Evans shoots back and wounds Jerry, but Jerry kills Evans. Jerry returns the necklace to Mrs. Crane, who agrees to lie that the necklace was not stolen at all. Mrs. Crane then takes Penny off to boarding school, while Jerry, suffering from his untreated gunshot wound, and Toni say goodbye to her. Though Jerry does not want to go to a doctor lest the police be involved, he collapses as he tries to get back in the car and Toni takes him to a hospital. Lying in a hospital bed with a police officer standing nearby, Jerry ruminates that it is not so bad coming clean after all.

Cast:

• Gary Cooper – Jerry Day
• Carole Lombard – Toni Carstairs Day
• Shirley Temple – Penelope „Penny“ Day
• Guy Standing – Felix Evans
• Charlotte Granville – Mrs. J.H.P. Crane
• Gilbert Emery – James Higginson
• Henry Kolker – Mr. Clark
• Tetsu Komai – Mr. Ling, Hotel Manager
• Egon Brecher – Doctor
• Luke Chan – Assistant Hotel Manager
• André Cheron – Inspector
• Ronnie Cosby – Guest at Penny’s Party
• Kenny Coughlin – Guest at Penny’s Party
• Carrie Daumery – Dowager Gambler
• Sam Harris – Man at Pool / Party Guest
• David Holt – Guest at Penny’s Party
• Richard Loo – Hotel Clerk
• Buster Phelps – Boy With Skates
• Luise Rainer – Real Estate Office Secretary
• Ynez Seabury – Undetermined Secondary Role
• Rolfe Sedan – Hotel Manager
• Harry Stubbs – Harry O’Neil
• Akim Tamiroff – French Jeweller
• George Webb – Uncle George
• Beal Wong – Assistant Hotel Clerk

„ Allerweltsliebling“ (Now and Forever) ist ein romantisches Drama aus dem Jahr 1934 unter der Regie von Henry Hathaway. Das Drehbuch von Vincent Lawrence und Sylvia Thalberg basiert auf der Geschichte „Honor Bright“ von Jack Kirkland und Melville Baker.

Der sorglose, unverantwortliche Jerry Day und seine zweite Frau Toni haben in einem Hotel in Shanghai eine Rechnung offen, die Jerry nicht bezahlen kann. Also heckt Jerry einen Plan aus, um andere Gäste zu betrügen, und die beiden entkommen. In seiner Verzweiflung über mehr Geld ist Jerry bereit, das Sorgerecht für seine fünfjährige Tochter Penelope aus erster Ehe, genannt Penny, die er nie kennen gelernt hat, an seinen ehemaligen Schwager zu verkaufen. Toni ist schockiert und reist allein nach Paris, während Cooper seine Tochter kennenlernt, von ihr fasziniert ist und beschließt, das Sorgerecht doch noch zu behalten. Penny und Jerry kommen in Paris an, um mit Toni wieder vereint zu sein. Nachdem er eine nicht existierende Goldmine an Felix Evans verkauft hat, beschließt Jerry, als Immobilienmakler wieder ins Berufsleben einzusteigen, hat aber keinen Erfolg.