I originally saw this on TV as a child and thought it was so incredibly sad. Recently, I had the opportunity to see it again and thought it was a bit campy, but it was the 1950s. Robert Stack's character is a bit of a selfish jerk, but, since it is the 50's, everyone knows he'll come around in the end. Lauren Bacall looked absolutely beautiful in this film. As for Evelyn Rudie, I thought she was the perfect old soul in a child's body. It's not such a bad film; it's really rather tender and sweet. Perfect, it isn't, but if you watch it for the simple enjoyment of a movie, it's pretty good. It's a 1/2 a hankie film, and great on a cold winter night, with some cocoa and popcorn.
20 Reviews
Redirect his passion
bkoganbing26 September 2012
Watching The Gift Of Love tonight made me wonder about the original film made from this story, Sentimental Journey. Having never seen that one I wondered if it was marginally better because this one is a two bath towel special.
There is a brief prologue of sorts where a doctor's receptionist Lauren Bacall meets scientist Robert Stack who's gone in for a consultation about insomnia. She decides to take the case personally and her cure is a couple of martinis. Before you know it they're in love and married.
Married for five years and no children. Then Bacall learns she's got a serious heart ailment that will cut her life short. Her concern is for Stack because even after five years the passion is still intense. Her solution is adopt a child even though she'll not be an adoptive mother long. Redirect his passion with what she believes will be The Gift Of Love.
The gift in the flesh is little Evelyn Rudie, a strange child who can't seem to get adopted. Still she and Bacall take to each other. The crisis comes for Stack and Rudie when Bacall dies.
Stack and Bacall are reunited as a husband and wife as they were in Written On The Wind. There Stack played an unhinged character and here he's a bit unhinged as well as being all consumed with his scientific research until Bacall gives him a domestic life as well. The two of them make this film bearable.
Otherwise The Gift Of Love is awash with sentiment and bathos. It's definitely a film to prepare yourself with a pair of bath towels at the ready.
There is a brief prologue of sorts where a doctor's receptionist Lauren Bacall meets scientist Robert Stack who's gone in for a consultation about insomnia. She decides to take the case personally and her cure is a couple of martinis. Before you know it they're in love and married.
Married for five years and no children. Then Bacall learns she's got a serious heart ailment that will cut her life short. Her concern is for Stack because even after five years the passion is still intense. Her solution is adopt a child even though she'll not be an adoptive mother long. Redirect his passion with what she believes will be The Gift Of Love.
The gift in the flesh is little Evelyn Rudie, a strange child who can't seem to get adopted. Still she and Bacall take to each other. The crisis comes for Stack and Rudie when Bacall dies.
Stack and Bacall are reunited as a husband and wife as they were in Written On The Wind. There Stack played an unhinged character and here he's a bit unhinged as well as being all consumed with his scientific research until Bacall gives him a domestic life as well. The two of them make this film bearable.
Otherwise The Gift Of Love is awash with sentiment and bathos. It's definitely a film to prepare yourself with a pair of bath towels at the ready.
You want sentiment? You got it!
mark.waltz2 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
OK, I've seen some sappy movies in my time, but none as saccharine as this. It's the story of preparing for the future of one's loved ones, facing the possibility of death with dignity and leaving a legacy of comfort for the survivors behind. In many aspects, it's not at all realistic, but to criticize it would be like beating your Valentine over the head with a Hallmark card. Therefore, it feels necessary to go into this with an extremely open mind, and the only way is to accept the fact that this is what life is like in some alternate universe, where like the song "Loveland" in the musical "Follies" explains that lovebirds cannot be separated, lest the survivor swoon and die.
Upon meeting handsome scientist Robert Stack, doctor's assistant Lauren Bacall offers to soothing his sore back by giving him a rubdown. Within minutes, they are leaving to have a drink, and minutes later are coming out of a wedding chapel. She moves into his home downstairs from an observatory, and it seems like the nest is full, even five years after their marriage. But when fate intervenes, she decides to make sure that if the worst happens, he won't be alone, and brings the young and troubled Evelyn Rudie into their home. However, not everything goes as planned, and for swooning and dying lovebird Stack, it takes a major gift of love to bring him back to life.
Coming out as Bacall recovered from the shock of husband Bogie's death, it seems a bit sentimental and even a little sappy at times. The two lovebirds are far too perfect together, yet there's a sense of darkness behind all of the pathos. Rudie is a natural, fine young actress, even when precocious and pretending that she's a horse. Bacall plays the ultimate heroine, not manipulative in any way, and is too good to be true. Stack gives a dark performance as he faces grief and confusion, going through the stages realistically and with intensity. Lorne Greene, Anne Seymour, Edward Platt and young Scatman Crothers are quite good in support. So take this for what it is, a message film with a huge heart, and leave the diabetic medicine for those who need it.
Upon meeting handsome scientist Robert Stack, doctor's assistant Lauren Bacall offers to soothing his sore back by giving him a rubdown. Within minutes, they are leaving to have a drink, and minutes later are coming out of a wedding chapel. She moves into his home downstairs from an observatory, and it seems like the nest is full, even five years after their marriage. But when fate intervenes, she decides to make sure that if the worst happens, he won't be alone, and brings the young and troubled Evelyn Rudie into their home. However, not everything goes as planned, and for swooning and dying lovebird Stack, it takes a major gift of love to bring him back to life.
Coming out as Bacall recovered from the shock of husband Bogie's death, it seems a bit sentimental and even a little sappy at times. The two lovebirds are far too perfect together, yet there's a sense of darkness behind all of the pathos. Rudie is a natural, fine young actress, even when precocious and pretending that she's a horse. Bacall plays the ultimate heroine, not manipulative in any way, and is too good to be true. Stack gives a dark performance as he faces grief and confusion, going through the stages realistically and with intensity. Lorne Greene, Anne Seymour, Edward Platt and young Scatman Crothers are quite good in support. So take this for what it is, a message film with a huge heart, and leave the diabetic medicine for those who need it.
A Wonderful Heartwarming Story
TwinIrish16 May 2007
I just saw this movie for the first time on TCM and I'm an older adult. Why anyone would think this movie would appeal only to teenagers or younger is a little pessimistic to say the least. I love the movie - Lauren Bacall, Robert Stack and adorable little Evelyn Rudie are wonderfully talented. Of course, no one will ever compare with Shirley Temple - that's a given. Even tho there have been many talented young actresses, they threw away the pattern with Shirley. The storyline is - as it's supposed to be - rather melancholy - and for the period of time it was made it's rather marvelous I feel. The outcome of the story - which most of us could have guessed of course - is quite a lesson that teaches just how grief can make someone go off the deep end, dealing with just their own pain, and not considering the feelings and welfare of someone else, especially a child. Who knows, maybe Julie's spirit did come and encourage more searching for Hitty - it's possible.
sentimental melodrama
SnoopyStyle2 September 2018
Julie (Lauren Bacall) marries theoretical physicist Bill Beck (Robert Stack). He's a real life rocket scientist working for the government. Suddenly, she has persistent heart issues. Fearing an early death leaving Bill alone, she convinces him to adopt an unusual imaginative little girl named Hitty. Bill struggles to connect with the girl with their differing interests.
This is a sentimental melodrama. It's Lauren Bacall's first film after Bogie's death. It needs a small tweak at the start of the movie. They shouldn't need a reason to adopt Hitty. Julie could still be the driving force but the reason to adopt Hitty is Hitty. If she discovers her medical issues later and keeps it a secret, it would be more dramatic with her desperate to join Bill and Hitty together. Her reveal to Bill would also be a great tear jerker moment. Otherwise, this is perfectly fine. The girl is adorable. Bacall is motherly. Stack is awkward around people. It all fits. Bill's too angry after Julie's death. Being depress is good enough. I don't like him yelling at Hitty. This is a solid sentimental melodrama.
This is a sentimental melodrama. It's Lauren Bacall's first film after Bogie's death. It needs a small tweak at the start of the movie. They shouldn't need a reason to adopt Hitty. Julie could still be the driving force but the reason to adopt Hitty is Hitty. If she discovers her medical issues later and keeps it a secret, it would be more dramatic with her desperate to join Bill and Hitty together. Her reveal to Bill would also be a great tear jerker moment. Otherwise, this is perfectly fine. The girl is adorable. Bacall is motherly. Stack is awkward around people. It all fits. Bill's too angry after Julie's death. Being depress is good enough. I don't like him yelling at Hitty. This is a solid sentimental melodrama.
Your star is not above.
ulicknormanowen25 November 2020
Two years after "written on the wind" ,here they are again: Lauren Bacall and Robert Stack ; like in Douglas Sirk's classic ,they get married and they haven't got any children.There the comparison ends .Although the cast and credits and the sparkling colors are enthusing , Jean Negulesco is no match for Sirk.
Besides,this is a remake of "sentimental journey" , in which the leads were Maureen O 'Hara and John Payne ; one should notice that the part of William Bendix , who shared top billing with both stars , has been reduced ,and Lorne Greene who replaces him is only supporting .
Like O'Hara in the original film,one finds it hard to believe Bacall has a heart condition ; ditto for Stark: a masculine man,he's as miscast as Payne .And he's not very credible as an astronomer ,solving his equations . By and large ,"sentimental journey" was more convincing ;a ghostly Julie says :" you both were looking for me ,and you've missed each other "; these appearances beyond the grave -except for the last picture -have been suppressed in the color version: the little girl hears her adoptive mom's voice ,but we do not hear it .Evelyn Rudie is a cute little girl ,but they had her overplay in the scenes when she neighs (brays more like).To have her return to the orphanage was an unnecessary change .
Vic Damone's syrupy song hints at the Fall,when the leaves fall down ,which indicates that the character will have to brace themselves when tragedy strikes.
Besides,this is a remake of "sentimental journey" , in which the leads were Maureen O 'Hara and John Payne ; one should notice that the part of William Bendix , who shared top billing with both stars , has been reduced ,and Lorne Greene who replaces him is only supporting .
Like O'Hara in the original film,one finds it hard to believe Bacall has a heart condition ; ditto for Stark: a masculine man,he's as miscast as Payne .And he's not very credible as an astronomer ,solving his equations . By and large ,"sentimental journey" was more convincing ;a ghostly Julie says :" you both were looking for me ,and you've missed each other "; these appearances beyond the grave -except for the last picture -have been suppressed in the color version: the little girl hears her adoptive mom's voice ,but we do not hear it .Evelyn Rudie is a cute little girl ,but they had her overplay in the scenes when she neighs (brays more like).To have her return to the orphanage was an unnecessary change .
Vic Damone's syrupy song hints at the Fall,when the leaves fall down ,which indicates that the character will have to brace themselves when tragedy strikes.
I have to go with the detractors on this one...ultra corny mush...
Doylenf26 January 2007
Warning: Spoilers
THE GIFT OF LOVE has got to be one of the most cringe-inducing movies I've seen from the '50s when sentimental tear-jerkers were still the rage, especially if they were dressed up in handsome Technicolor photography and settings...and preferably, with stars like ROBERT STACK and LAUREN BACALL for box-office appeal.
This one is a sad remake of an even weepier B&W original called SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY that starred Maureen O'Hara and John Payne (with Connie Marshall as the little girl), a Fox film so banal that you wonder why they bothered to toy with the script again. It's still banal, all the way, with a ludicrous script and inept performances you've got to see to believe how bad the acting is.
LAUREN BACALL is the noble wife who knows she has a terminal illness, so she prepares the little girl and hubby for her demise, wanting them to go on loving each other and helping each other when she's gone. That's the plot, in a nutshell, and naturally--when she dies--hubby goes off his rocker and makes thing difficult for the girl, ending up sending her back to the orphanage where they adopted her. What happens after this will try your patience to the utmost as the girl leaves her snug bed at the orphanage to run out into a rainstorm with her toy horse along the seashore. You know whatever happens next will reunite her with her father, who seems to be getting a message from his dead wife that the girl needs emergency help.
It's as sticky and mushy as these things can possibly be with ROBERT STACK at his absolute worst feigning mournfulness over his wife's sudden departure--the scene of him at her gravesite is almost laughable. And the little girl (EVELYN RUDIE) makes you appreciate what a marvelous actress Shirley Temple was as a child star.
Surprisingly, it's all directed by the wonderful Jean Negulesco, who must have been forced into fulfilling contract demands to even come near this maudlin script.
I see from the other comments that this sort of nonsense appealed strongly to teen-age girls when first viewed. I hope they have a chance to reconsider calling it "wonderful" if they see it again as adults.
This one is a sad remake of an even weepier B&W original called SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY that starred Maureen O'Hara and John Payne (with Connie Marshall as the little girl), a Fox film so banal that you wonder why they bothered to toy with the script again. It's still banal, all the way, with a ludicrous script and inept performances you've got to see to believe how bad the acting is.
LAUREN BACALL is the noble wife who knows she has a terminal illness, so she prepares the little girl and hubby for her demise, wanting them to go on loving each other and helping each other when she's gone. That's the plot, in a nutshell, and naturally--when she dies--hubby goes off his rocker and makes thing difficult for the girl, ending up sending her back to the orphanage where they adopted her. What happens after this will try your patience to the utmost as the girl leaves her snug bed at the orphanage to run out into a rainstorm with her toy horse along the seashore. You know whatever happens next will reunite her with her father, who seems to be getting a message from his dead wife that the girl needs emergency help.
It's as sticky and mushy as these things can possibly be with ROBERT STACK at his absolute worst feigning mournfulness over his wife's sudden departure--the scene of him at her gravesite is almost laughable. And the little girl (EVELYN RUDIE) makes you appreciate what a marvelous actress Shirley Temple was as a child star.
Surprisingly, it's all directed by the wonderful Jean Negulesco, who must have been forced into fulfilling contract demands to even come near this maudlin script.
I see from the other comments that this sort of nonsense appealed strongly to teen-age girls when first viewed. I hope they have a chance to reconsider calling it "wonderful" if they see it again as adults.
A film I would LOVE to purchase because I remember that it was very touching and memorable to me, an adolescent girl in 1958!!
KianaDee27 March 2004
I don't often remember most movies beyond a year or so - if that - but for some reason this movie that I saw as a 14 year old has stayed with me all these years. In searching for that movie on the web, I came across this site and the comments made by another fan. I was struck by her saying how this movie has "haunted her" since she saw it when she was about the same age as I was! Interesting that it had the same effect on us both. I remember that Robert Stack and Lauren Bacall did a convincing, significant job in their roles and made me want to see them in every thing else I could after that. The movie was very touching, and I could imagine what it would be like to be in their shoes. One scene in the movie was Lauren reflecting on her situation, looking out an upstairs window onto the garden -- I can still picture it after all these years. How I would love to see that movie again!!
Dreadful
FredGailey20 February 2009
I would give this no stars if I had the option. An insult to the original 1946 'Sentimental Journey' which starred John Payne & Maureen O'Hara (a highly under rated screen couple from the golden age of cinema, in my opinion, who should have been cast alongside each other in more than the 4 films they did, as they had definite chemistry. )All I can say is pass on this and watch the original - its better acted and scripted than this drivel. When you see the on screen electricity between Payne & O'Hara, you'll see why, they give Scarlett & Rhett a run for their money and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie for that matter. Can't understand why they had to remake Sentimental Journey anyway as it was only 12 years old at the time this dud was made!
One of my favorites
niki875 June 1999
I still remember this movie through the eyes of a 12 year old girl and while I may not be a good critic of quality acting & scripts, I do know that this movie has haunted me since I was 12. It must have had some good qualities but the only other reviews I've read criticized it. I started going to movies with my mother when I was 3 and of the thousands I've seen, this is one of my all time favorites.
It was like a train wreck, yet I could not stop watching.
LOLA-1122 December 1998
This story was so unbelievably corny, this is one of the worse pieces of crap I have seen from the fifties. The dialogue was brightly phony, Lauren Bacall and Robert Stack must cringe at the thought of their appearances in this movie. And the opening title song, Vic Damone crooning as they show various scenes of Lauren Bacall massaging Robert Stack's shoulders and neck! What was that all about??? The film was beautifully done in color (for 1958) but the storyline so bad- what was she doing, trying to train the adopted girl to become her husband's concubine after her inevitable death? I could not stop watching, it was like being at the scene of a disaster. This is definite high camp from the fifties.
Fond Memories
fansweep6 August 2006
I was quite young (around 14) when I saw this movie on TV. While I could not remember the cast very much at that time, the story and the way the actors/actresses had carried the story through made a lasting impression on me - what it means when any child can be your child - it takes only to show love and how it can fill the gaps in our lives. This story of this film helped me to help many of my friends who did not have their own children and that they can enjoy the gift if they open their minds and hearts to them - as the leading lady impresses upon the husband. The beginning of romance between the two and the moments they draw together and next when we see them as a couple are all well portrayed.
Great movie I loved when I was a kid
justine_halligan6 October 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This is a great movie I remember watching on TV when I was young. I haven't seen it since I was 15, but I love it. Basically the premise is that Lauren Bacall adopts a young girl - she's a great mum, and tries to provide her with a nice life, but the new daughter is trying desperately to impress the stoic father (Robert Stack) which is not easy. Nothing Evelyn does works - and you feel so sorry for her, she's so cute and when we were young we felt so sorry for her. The scene where Evelyn Rudie "cleans" Robert Stack's blackboard to be helpful, only to find that she has erased months of Stack's work on important math formulas (I can't remember but I think he's an astronomer)is tragic to watch. As it turns out, they do become close eventually for tragic reasons - the scenes of Evelyn Rudie running close to the cliffs near the beach by their home still haunt me. I've tried to find this on DVD and VHS with no luck so if you see it on TV watch it!
loved it, from a childs perspective
mykidzrokk29 September 2011
Warning: Spoilers
i remember it exactly as the reviewer above. I was about the same age when i first saw it and just recall being drawn in to the story from the little orphans point of view. Lauren Bacall has been my favourite actress ever since and im waiting to watch the film again and gain an adult perspective. Im not expecting i will feel the same and am concerned about maybe some of the magic being lost, but still, i need to do it to satisfy a 25 year long desire to see this film again. I haven't read any critic reviews and im sure it has been rubbished given a loose storyline, but cute and sweet and a little something to warm your heart.
Beautiful and sad love story.
rsma2 February 2007
From the very beginning, where Vic Damone sings the BEAUTIFUL Title Song, to the end where I sit teary-eyed, again, I LOVE this film. I also loved the original, "Sentimental Journey" just as much. Both may be a bit unrealistic in today's no-room-for-sentiment world, but they are heartwarming and wonderful movies that most women of my generation appreciate and WANT to see-----------often! This movie is NOT shown often enough. Lauren Bacall is as beautiful as beautiful gets and Robert Stack gives a fine performance. I did notice that the lovely background music played throughout both films, is basically the same song, but played to a somewhat different beat. In both films, even the music pulls at your heartstrings. One of my favorites!
Evelyn Rudie was adorable.
kiaora-127 September 2012
Maybe not as good as Sentimental Journey - 1946, but then I've never seen the original. I did enjoy watching The Gift Of Love, if only for little Hitty (Evelyn Rudie). She was so adorable and I've always liked Lauren Bacall and Robert Stack. I don't think this movie was at all bad, as some have purported it to be. It was the 50s and movies were like that. B movie or not, it's certainly better than the garbage you see today. Just look at all the remakes of many movies today; they're all terribly done. I can't help being partial to classics and old movies because I was a child in the 50s. Some of my favorite moments were watching these movies. Unlike today's TV fare, you could always expect to watch something entertaining, and without all of the foul language, sexual content, etc. that you generally see today.
Love can grow
tortillachips-972-97563727 November 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I love this movie! This is my second time and I cried like a baby like I have never seen the movie before and I didn't know the ending! I love the story. You see it is real that folks will ask someone to look after a loved one when they are gone! A neighbor of ours asked my mother to look after his wife. My mother never told the wife this but she does look after her. We are humans and we know some folks can handle death better then others. Cope better. Sometimes love is not instant either. It grows slowly. It almost sneaks up on us. I think this movie shows those two things! I think this movie is worth much more then a 6.3 stars. Grief is a process. This movie teaches sometimes folks are there to help us through grief but are we willing to accept the help!
Have a box of Kleenex handy if you watch this one!
planktonrules6 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
When the film begins, Julie and William (Lauren Bacall and Robert Stack) fall in love and get married. They're incredibly happy and life seems grand. What he doesn't know is that Julie's health is unstable and the Rheumatic Fever she had as a child might end up shortening her life. Something else Julie doesn't tell William is that she wants to adopt a child...and he seems a bit indifferent towards the idea.
When they get a little girl, Julie thinks Hitty is darling. But William is a bookish astronomer and has difficulty relating to the girl. This means that perhaps the adoption will not become finalized...but before Julie can do anything about this, she dies!! Now, a grief-stricken WIlliam is straddled with a nice little girl who he really doesn't want. Time to get out those tissues!!!
So what happens next? Will William grow up and face his responsibilities or will Hitty ultimately be returned to the orphanage?
The acting is quite nice in the film. I was particularly impressed by Evelyn Rudie as Hitty. She was incredibly mature and convincing. It's interesting that when she got just a bit older, she was out of films entirely...our loss. The only negative about this film is that it wasn't an original, as it is a remake of "Sentimental Journey" (1946).
When they get a little girl, Julie thinks Hitty is darling. But William is a bookish astronomer and has difficulty relating to the girl. This means that perhaps the adoption will not become finalized...but before Julie can do anything about this, she dies!! Now, a grief-stricken WIlliam is straddled with a nice little girl who he really doesn't want. Time to get out those tissues!!!
So what happens next? Will William grow up and face his responsibilities or will Hitty ultimately be returned to the orphanage?
The acting is quite nice in the film. I was particularly impressed by Evelyn Rudie as Hitty. She was incredibly mature and convincing. It's interesting that when she got just a bit older, she was out of films entirely...our loss. The only negative about this film is that it wasn't an original, as it is a remake of "Sentimental Journey" (1946).
The gift of bad Hollywood cinema
jarrodmcdonald-11 March 2014
Warning: Spoilers
In this film, we have 70 minutes to reconcile ourselves to the fact that the lead character (Lauren Bacall) is going to die. If we've already seen the original version of this Fox melodrama, we know just how much of an eternity that hour and ten minutes may seem. For most of this time, however, our interest is sustained by Lauren Bacall's credible performance as a terminal woman who wants to adopt a little girl (Evelyn Rudie) and leave it behind to keep her husband (Robert Stack) company. The Freudian implications of such thoughtful generosity are not fully disclosed, but we are expected to accept this contrivance just the same.
Beginning with the 71st minute of this motion picture, we are subjected to a series of painful scenes where Stack deals with death and the unlikelihood of raising Rudie without Bacall. There are countless moments where the characters mention talking to Bacall's spirit, presumably out of camera-range. This begs the question: why not just have Bacall hover over them, superimposed, to suggest some sort of present supernatural form?
But the real reason the last thirty minutes without Miss Bacall are terribly difficult to watch is because the narrative at this point must rely strictly on Mr. Stack and Miss Rudie, who are just not able to hold our attention. Quite frankly, the young actress is not good enough to handle such a huge part; some of Rudie's line deliveries are so monotone and emotionless that all the hard work Bacall had done earlier in the picture is compromised. And when it becomes apparent that Rudie lacks the ability to bring some depth to the role, we feel sorry for Stack having to go through the paces with her, and we envy Bacall who took the last exit and got off at Heaven.
Beginning with the 71st minute of this motion picture, we are subjected to a series of painful scenes where Stack deals with death and the unlikelihood of raising Rudie without Bacall. There are countless moments where the characters mention talking to Bacall's spirit, presumably out of camera-range. This begs the question: why not just have Bacall hover over them, superimposed, to suggest some sort of present supernatural form?
But the real reason the last thirty minutes without Miss Bacall are terribly difficult to watch is because the narrative at this point must rely strictly on Mr. Stack and Miss Rudie, who are just not able to hold our attention. Quite frankly, the young actress is not good enough to handle such a huge part; some of Rudie's line deliveries are so monotone and emotionless that all the hard work Bacall had done earlier in the picture is compromised. And when it becomes apparent that Rudie lacks the ability to bring some depth to the role, we feel sorry for Stack having to go through the paces with her, and we envy Bacall who took the last exit and got off at Heaven.
***
edwagreen11 July 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Typical Hollywood fanfare with tinsel town probably taking advantage of Bob Stack and Lauren Bacalle two years before in "Written on the Wind."
From the beginning, you would swear that this was going to be a comedy. That all changes when Lauren Bacall discovers a fatal illness and hopes that by adopting a child, the latter can continue to do the things her husband, Stack, is used to.
Unfortunately, the father and child really can't relate to one another and of course the situated is exacerbated when the Bacalle character dies.
Notice how the child constantly refers to her parents by their first names and that Bacall smokes after learning of her fate. Ed Platt, who was the doctor in "Written on the Wind," repeats his doctor-like role in this one as well.
The ending is typical Hollywood with love conquering all. Doesn't one think that Stack was miscast here? Cary Grant or Jimmy Stewart would have been much better.
From the beginning, you would swear that this was going to be a comedy. That all changes when Lauren Bacall discovers a fatal illness and hopes that by adopting a child, the latter can continue to do the things her husband, Stack, is used to.
Unfortunately, the father and child really can't relate to one another and of course the situated is exacerbated when the Bacalle character dies.
Notice how the child constantly refers to her parents by their first names and that Bacall smokes after learning of her fate. Ed Platt, who was the doctor in "Written on the Wind," repeats his doctor-like role in this one as well.
The ending is typical Hollywood with love conquering all. Doesn't one think that Stack was miscast here? Cary Grant or Jimmy Stewart would have been much better.
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