Now, Voyager (1942, U.S.)

I rather like Bette Davis, especially because I really don't think she's the most attractive woman in the world and yet she was still cast as the heroine repeatedly. (Also, she probably did the best portrayal of Elizabeth I of all time.) She was quite good in the film as an "old" maid who has a nervous breakdown, goes to a "mental institution" to recover (where she's treated by Louis from Casablanca) before emerging transformed into a beauty and going on a cruise to further her recovery (where she falls in love with Lazslo from Casablanca). This film is centered around the self-discovery and transformation of her character, and she plays it well. If anything, it's understated.

It's a little old-fashioned (obviously) in its portrayal of a woman needing a man to be complete, but then it takes a remarkable forward-thinking approach when she ends up being her own woman. (Although even then, her role becomes very maternal. Still, it's not bad for 1942!)

The music was very typical of Max Steiner, and although the sound editing at times made the music quite a bit too loud for the scene, it still fit pretty well.

A lot of this film reminded me of An Affair to Remember, which is one of my favorite oldies (and one of the first ones I watched, since it was my Grandma's favorite). So if you like that one, you may like this one. However, you should be warned that the ending of Now, Voyager isn't nearly as satisfying as the ending of An Affair to Remember.

Rating: 3.5