Now, Voyager (1942)

Director:

Irving Rapper

Writers:

Casey Robinson (screenplay)
Olive Higgins Prouty (from the novel by)

Release Date:

31 October 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Today Her Greatest! For a woman there's always an excuse . . .

Plot:

Boston spinster blossoms under therapy and finds impossible romance.

Plot Keywords:

Spinster | Cruise | Love Affair | Domineering Mother | Heart Attack

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Bette Davis	...	Charlotte Vale
Paul Henreid	...	Jerry Durrance
Claude Rains	...	Dr. Jaquith
Gladys Cooper	...	Mrs. Henry Vale
Bonita Granville	...	June Vale
John Loder	...	Elliot Livingston
Ilka Chase	...	Lisa Vale
Lee Patrick	...	'Deb' McIntyre
Franklin Pangborn	...	Mr. Thompson
Katharine Alexander	...	Miss Trask (as Katherine Alexander)
James Rennie	...	Frank McIntyre
Mary Wickes	...	Dora Pickford
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tod Andrews	...	Dr. Dan Regan (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
David Clyde	...	William (uncredited)
Frank Dae	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Yola d'Avril	...	Celestine (uncredited)
Donald Douglas	...	George Weston (uncredited)
Charles Drake	...	Leslie Trotter (uncredited)
Claire Du Brey	...	Hilda (uncredited)
Elspeth Dudgeon	...	Aunt Hester (uncredited)
Bill Edwards	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Mary Field	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Concert Audience Member (uncredited)
Reed Hadley	...	Henry Montague (uncredited)
Sheila Hayward	...	Katie (uncredited)
Bill Kennedy	...	Hamilton Hunneker (uncredited)
George Lessey	...	Uncle Herbert (uncredited)
Lester Matthews	...	Captain (uncredited)
Corbet Morris	...	Hilary (uncredited)
Tempe Pigott	...	Mrs. Smith (uncredited)
Hilda Plowright	...	Justine (uncredited)
Frank Puglia	...	Giuseppe (uncredited)
Constance Purdy	...	Rosa (uncredited)
Georges Renavent	...	M. Henri (uncredited)
Dorothy Vaughan	...	Woman (uncredited)
Janis Wilson	...	Tina Durrance (uncredited)
Isabel Withers	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Ian Wolfe	...	Lloyd (uncredited)
Charlotte Wynters	...	Grace Weston (uncredited)

Directed by
Irving Rapper

Writing credits
Casey Robinson		(screenplay)
Olive Higgins Prouty		(from the novel by)

Produced by
Hal B. Wallis	....	producer

Original Music by
Max Steiner		(music by)

Cinematography by
Sol Polito		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Warren Low

Art Direction by
Robert M. Haas		(as Robert Haas)

Set Decoration by
Fred M. MacLean

Costume Design by
Orry-Kelly		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist
Martha Acker	....	hair (uncredited)
Edwin Allen	....	make-up (uncredited)

Production Management
Al Alleborn	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Emmett Emerson	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Sherry Shourds	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Scotty Moore	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robert B. Lee	....	sound

Special Effects by
Willard Van Enger	....	special effects

Stunts
Audrey Scott	....	stunt double: Bette Davis (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Joe Cramer	....	best boy (uncredited)
Frank Evans	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Al Green	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Harold Noyes	....	grip (uncredited)
Charles O'Bannon	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Bert Six	....	stills (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mary Dery	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Rydo Loshak	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Marguerite Royce	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	musical director
Hugo Friedhofer	....	orchestral arrangements

Other crew
Edward A. Blatt	....	dialogue director (as Edward Blatt)
Don Siegel	....	montages
George Becker	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Meta Carpenter	....	script clerk (uncredited)
Phyllis Clark	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Gilberto Souto	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures (presents) (as Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.) (A Warner Bros. First National Picture)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1942) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (new 35mm print)
• Warner Bros. (1947) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Portuguese

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:PG | Canada:PG (video rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #8341) | Germany:o.Al.

Filming Locations:

6621 Whitley Terrace, Whitley Heights, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The Walt Whitman poem that Bette Davis reads (just before leaving Cascades) is "The Untold Want" from Songs of Parting (just 2 lines): "The untold want, by life and land ne'er granted,/ Now, Voyager, sail thou forth, to seek and find."

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Jerry (Paul Henreid) introduces Charlotte (Bette Davis) as 'Camille' to his friends on the cruise line. Later, when the foursome take a break from shuffleboard and the two women retire to deck chairs, Deb McIntyre (Lee Patrick) calls her Charlotte.

Quotes:

Charlotte Vale: Oh Jerry, don't let's ask for the moon. We have the stars.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Oliver's Travels: Why Did We Eat the Frogs? (#1.3)" (1995)

Soundtrack:

Night and Day

Classic 'Chick Flick' Improves with Age!

"Now, Voyager" is, perhaps, the 'perfect' soap opera, an "Ugly Duckling" romantic drama offering full measures of heart and heartbreak, joy and unrequited yet spiritually satisfying love. It is my favorite Bette Davis film, as it exemplifies her classic '40s persona; initially fragile but ready to bloom, she, is, ultimately, a survivor who, facing her destiny, embraces it with courage and confidence.

It's hard to believe that Davis, Warner's biggest female star, had to fight for the role of Charlotte Vale, but Olive Higgins Prouty's best-selling novel was such a strong potential star vehicle that a wide array of actresses, from Irene Dunne to Ginger Rogers, campaigned for the part. Davis was undaunted, however, and after meetings with producer Hal Wallis, succeeded in winning him over, then pressured the studio into borrowing Paul Henreid from RKO, as her leading man. The potent chemistry between the pair is a highlight of the film; who can forget the scenes of his lighting two cigarettes in his mouth, then handing one to Bette?

As brilliant as her performance is (earning her an Oscar nomination), the rest of the cast is equally good. Headed by Oscar nominee Gladys Cooper, as her selfish, dominating mother, and Claude Rains, as the brilliant, yet down-to-earth psychiatrist who turns the frumpy Vale into a radiant beauty, the characters mesh together seamlessly. Two supporting characters deserve special attention; Janis Wilson, as Henreid's love-starved daughter, succeeds as a younger variation of Davis; and young Mary Wickes, great fun as a plain-speaking, wise nurse, unafraid of the Dowager mother.

This is a film to cherish, from director Irving Rapper's masterful use of voice-over 'thoughts' of Vale, to Max Steiner's famous, wildly romantic score.

While "Now, Voyager" is, unabashedly, a 'Chick Flick', don't be surprised, female viewers, if the guy in your life becomes as big a fan of the film as you...Davis is the kind of heroine EVERYONE can cheer for!