IT HAPPENED TOMORROW (1944)
Article #683 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 1-27-2003
Posting Date: 6-26-2003
Directed by Rene Clair
Featuring Dick Powell, Linda Darnell and Jack Oakie

A reporter begins to receive the daily paper one day early, and tries to take advantage of his knowledge of the future.

This is only the third time I’ve encountered Rene Clair on this cinematic journey, and though I tend not to think of him as a “Great” director, I do think he’s perfect for unpretentious movies that require a light touch to them. Thanks to him, this movie never becomes pretentious or heavy-handed; the closest he comes to an arty shot is an exquisite little moment involving a revolving door, and since it occurs during the only moment in the movie that anyone dies, it works nicely. This comedy makes some nice uses of the central concept, and it’s fun to see Edgar Kennedy as a frustrated cop trying to deal with his uncooperative prisoners. All in all, a light, enjoyable change of pace from my usual fare.