| An unremarkable (by today's standards) | | | | not be able to bear children anymore. |
| childrearing melodrama in which Cary | | | | But why did they have to go to Japan to |
| Grant delivers a performance so good | | | | arrive at that point is a moot script |
| that he was nominated for a Best Actor | | | | question that is left unanswered. |
| Oscar. George Stevens directed the | | | | Couldn't the same fate befall Julie if |
| script by Morrie Ryskind.The whole movie | | | | she had another accident closer to home? |
| unfolds as a series of linear | | | | Why did they have to go all the way to |
| flashbacks, each triggered by the LP | | | | Japan, is not clear. The whole "Tokyo |
| records a disconsolate Julie (Irene | | | | episode" stands out like a joke without |
| Dunne) is playing on a gramophone just | | | | a punch line.The rest of this drama |
| before she leaves her house for good. | | | | unfolds as the story of the married |
| The reason? There does not seem to be | | | | couple's desperate effort to adopt a |
| anything left in her marriage to keep | | | | child, and once adopted, not to lose |
| her there. We are soon to learn the | | | | her.There is yet another "baby sequence" |
| reason why and all the tragic events | | | | in the middle of the movie which could |
| that led her to that wistful moment.The | | | | easily be part of an unrelated comedy. |
| first couple of times the revolving LP | | | | Grant again excels in this sequence, |
| record dissolves into a "memory hole" | | | | almost paying tribute to the early years |
| through which we enter a slice of life | | | | he spent during his teens as a pantomime |
| in Julie's past, we enjoy it as a | | | | and acrobat with Bob Pender's troupe. We |
| manifestation of a director's | | | | see the young couple going through many |
| creativity. But the sixth or the seventh | | | | of the anxieties in taking care of their |
| time that happens, we wonder how many | | | | adopted 5-week daughter. (Is she asleep |
| times we have to suffer the same | | | | or did she quit breathing?)They are so |
| unrelentingly mechanical idea. It gets | | | | inexperienced, they don't even know how |
| old pretty quickly proving that | | | | to hold a baby or bath her and change |
| consistency is not always a virtue.Cary | | | | her diaper.But we can't also help notice |
| Grant plays the young and dashing | | | | the progress of a father-daughter |
| newspaper reporter Roger Adams who | | | | bonding between Grant and his infant |
| marries the love of his life Julie | | | | daughter despite the fact that |
| (played by Irene Dunne) on the eve of | | | | originally he asked for a 2-year old boy |
| his departure to Tokyo to take over his | | | | "with blond curly hair and blue |
| newspaper's Japan bureau. It also | | | | eyes."For the first couple of years |
| happens to be the Christmas night, | | | | Roger's newly established weekly |
| complete with the obligatory snowfall | | | | newspaper business, helped by the press |
| (as in another Cary Grant movie, | | | | veteran Applejack, seems to be making |
| BISHOP'S WIFE (1948)).Once established | | | | the ends meet. But then his business |
| in Tokyo, Roger has Julie join him at | | | | takes a sudden downturn and suddenly he |
| his new opulent digs complete with a | | | | is a man without an income.Since they |
| family of Japanese house servants. Julie | | | | are still at a "probationary period" in |
| is both delighted and astonished that | | | | their adoption process, the |
| Roger can sustain that level of luxury | | | | ever-vigilant adoption agency in the |
| with only a reporter's salary. We | | | | person of Miss Oliver (Beulah Bondi) |
| remember an earlier scene in which her | | | | takes Roger to court. The judge is |
| friend Applejack (Edgar Buchanan) warned | | | | supposed to take the girl back because a |
| her against getting involved with a | | | | family without income is not a fit place |
| journalist. Is there something shady | | | | for any child to grow up in.However, |
| about Roger or past that we would know | | | | Cary grant in yet another excellent |
| about yet?Two interesting things happen | | | | scene, delivers this really emotional |
| during the "Tokyo sequence" that bring | | | | monologue about the pain of separation |
| both Roger's character and the script's | | | | from his daughter, and the absurdity of |
| strength into question.In the first | | | | taking a child back as though she was a |
| scene, Roger announces Julie that he has | | | | car or a furniture repossessed because |
| quit his job thanks to his family | | | | the owner has been late in payments. His |
| inheritance. Now they can go travel | | | | appeal as a heartbroken father wins the |
| around the world before they settle down | | | | day and the judge allows him to take her |
| and raise a family, although during | | | | back home.After so many spinning |
| their dating period Roger showed some | | | | gramophone records dissolving into |
| reluctance to suffer pranks of children | | | | flashback scenes, we watch the child |
| (the beach scene) gladly.It turns out | | | | grow and take a small part in a |
| what Roger calls "an inheritance" is | | | | Christmas play at school as her very |
| just about ten thousand dollars, which | | | | proud parents watch her and give all |
| shrinks further down to $8,000 after he | | | | their support despite a minor mishap on |
| pays his outstanding bills. It is a let | | | | the stage that ruins her day.Then |
| down for Julie. He accuses Roger by | | | | disaster strikes, as it should in a |
| acting "childishly." We'll see this | | | | tragedy. We read in a letter written to |
| pattern for the rest of the movie: Roger | | | | Miss Oliver that the child has died |
| will always come across as a man with | | | | following an illness. Since up to that |
| grand ideas and much self-confidence | | | | point we have not seen a single scene in |
| who, however, can't deliver the bacon at | | | | which the child suffered from any |
| the end.The second important development | | | | physical ailments, this also comes |
| in the "Tokyo sequence" is the | | | | across as contrived a plot point as the |
| earthquake that levels their home. As we | | | | earlier " Tokyo earthquake."After the |
| continue to watch to see the "payoff" of | | | | death of their daughter Roger and |
| this totally unexpected natural | | | | Julie's union starts to unravel quickly. |
| disaster, the film abruptly shifts back | | | | The girl was the bond that kept them |
| to San Francisco where Julie is lying in | | | | together. |
| a hospital and she learns that she will | | | | |