At the start of the film, Julie (Irene Dunne) is preparing to leave her husband Roger (Cary Grant). She begins listening to records, each of which reminds her of her past with Roger that has led them to this point. This is the tearjerker to end all tearjerkers. It's a pretty depressing movie, I have to admit. What saves it is the beautiful acting of the stars and solid direction from George Stevens. The use of music to mark different points in their life was pretty inspired for the time. As I said, the stars turn in beautiful performances. Grant is especially good in one of his better soap operatic roles. It's not the sort of film he was best known for but, as with most genres he tackled, he knocks it out of the park. Dunne is also terrific. Nice support from Edgar Buchanan and Beulah Bondi. It seems a little more like a mid-'30s picture instead of one from 1941. These sorts of soapers were very big in the '30s. Grant and Dunne fans might be disappointed that this is nothing like their two prior screwball comedies. But it's a very good movie of its type. The question is whether you like the type.
Review of Penny Serenade
