Tomorrow Is Forever

Elizabeth (Claudette Colbert) sends her husband John MacDonald (Orson Welles) off to WWI. After the war ends, Elizabeth receives a telegram that John has been killed in action. He's actually been horribly disfigured beyond recognition. He doesn't want to burden her and takes on an alternate identity Erik Kessler. However he doesn't know that Elizabeth gave birth to their son Drew. Her boss Larry Hamilton (George Brent) takes care of her and they get married. Twenty years later, John/Erik returns with an adopted daughter Margaret Ludwig (Natalie Wood). They're escaping Europe just as WWII is about to start. He goes to his old house but Elizabeth is long gone. He goes to work for Larry and is surprised to meet her at a dinner party. She doesn't recognize him and he's conflicted to reveal his true identity. Drew intends to volunteer for war.

Natalie Wood is so young that I don't even recognize her. She's so tiny, adorable and does a great job. This is a very traditional melodrama with a couple of great actors. Welles is quite effective. He doesn't have much screen time before the war which makes his 'transformation' a whole lot easier. Claudette Colbert plays the melodrama with class although she's asked to stretch a lot. Her character goes from weepy depressed to shocked anger. The story is one big melodrama of lost romance. It's a real weepy tear jerker manipulating all the heart strings. Well there isn't that many tears but it's the kind of movie that never stops trying. The great actors keep the enterprise on track.