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Rating:  - calling "Now Voyager" camp
An earlier review wanted people to remember "Now Voyager" as a classic movie and not camp. In my opinion, it isn't bad for something to be called camp. You can love something and it's still an example of camp. Sometimes when things are called "classic", no one wants to look at them because they sound cold and uninviting, "camp" can mean affection too. Many human qualities are embarrassing to see but also poignant because they show human frailities. They're embarrassing because no one wants to feel vulnerable. It's not because "Now Voyager" is a bad film that we're laughing at Charlotte Vale's circumstances (unless the audiences are sadistic jerks) but because she's so vulnerable and trying so hard to rise above her circumstances. The laughter might the uncomfortable laughter of self recognition.
Rating: - Lots of romance and lots of smoking.
Bette Davis plays Charlotte Vale, a maiden aunt, a spinster, who escapes from under the thumb of her domineering mother to change her life, her outlook, her very appearance. She goes from a staying-in-her-bedroom nerd to sexy single woman in just one ocean voyage. She is the star. So much so that I don't plan to list anybody else. Like in most of the films of the time, and in many of her films, she can't stop smoking. Which I find funny. They're holding burning cigarettes even while kissing. I'm surprised they didn't burn the sets down.
James Wood thought this was one of the best films of all time and I have to agree.
Rating: - From ugly duckling to swan
Bette Davis plays a shy, timid woman named Charlotte Vale who is controlled by her aging mother, played by Gladys Cooper. Charlotte's mother has controlled all of her life and never forgets to mention to her that she has control of her. One day a doctor comes to visit and witnesses Charlotte having a mental breakdown and sends her to his hospital. While there the doctor (played by Claude Rains) helps Charlotte change her hair, pluck her eyebrows, wear flattering clothes, and helps to bring her out of her shell.
Later on Charlotte decides to take a cruise where she meets a married man named Jerry, played by Paul Henreid. Jerry is stuck in a unhappy marriage and Charlotte knows what she has gotten herself into when she decides to have the affair of sorts.
When the cruise is over, Charlotte returns to Boston, and her family is shocked to see the change in her. One day Charlotte and her mother get into a heated argument and the mother dies. Charlotte is faced with guilt and decides to return to the hospital. At the hospital she meets a twelve-year-old girl named, Tina who turns out to be Jerry's daughter. Charlotte becomes Tina's official nurse, and brings Tina back to Boston with her. One day Jerry turns up at Charlotte's door to see his daughter, and ends up alone with Charlotte in the library.
I'm not going to tell what happens in the library, but I'll end it with Charlotte's last words to Jerry, "Oh, Jerry, don't let's ask for the moon. We have the stars."
~~~~Kat
Rating: - The Ugly Duckling becomes a Swan!
This Classic movie from Warner Bros. should be more to the forefront of any Davis bio or filmography. She never (in real life ) seemed to care about her IMAGE as she said ( I always wanted to look like the Character, whether glamourus or downright ugly!) and from real life photos she was never vain about the content. In fact most of her private photos are very unflattering. In this movie , however , she becomes ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, not just in looks but also as a sympathetic character who the audience roots for. In short, this is a fantastic love story that will stay with you forever, and despite the later, almost drag queen, performances, proves why this little, bug eyed woman was so revered as The consumate movie actress. No one else at this time could have evoked such sympathy with this role.
I pity todays stars who are forced to prostitute themselves in commercial movies that are forgotten even before the DVD release.
Rating: - Classic at its best!
This is an excellent classic and Bette is at her best!
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