"Make Way For Tomorrow" *** (out of ****)
Leo McCarey is known mostly for the comedies he directed. Some of his films include "Duck Soup" with the Marx Brothers, the Harold Lloyd comedy "The Milky Way" and my all-time favorite screwball comedy "The Awful Truth". But McCarey had a serious side to him. He directed the Oscar winner "Going My Way" with Bing Crosby, "Love Affair" and the remake which followed "An Affair to Remember".
"Make Way For Tomorrow" is considered by some movie fans as one of the most depressing Hollywood movies ever made. The great American filmmaker Orson Welles spoke about the film in Peter Bogdanovich's "This is Orson Welles" and was quoted as saying "it would make a stone cry." The documentary filmmaker Errol Morris said it was "the most depressing movie ever made, providing reassurance that everything will definitely end badly." I don't find the movie to be as depressing as some have made it out to be. It is an unapologetic sentimental piece of hog-wash and does belong in a class with "weepers" such as Elia Kazan's "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn". But the film it deserves the most comparison with is Yasujiro Ozu's "Tokyo Story".
"Make Way For Tomorrow", which McCarey said was his finest film, tells the story of an elderly couple, the Coopers (Victor Moore and Beulah Bondi) who as a result of being unable to make payments on their house find the bank will now take it away from them. They have five children, whom they rarely see, and who have rarely seen each other. When they learn of the news each has their own story about why they are unable to help out financially. Since neither child wants to take both of them in at once, it is decided one parent will go with one child and the other with another child.
Lucy (Bondi) goes with her son, George (Thomas Mitchell) and his wife Anita (Fay Bainter) while Barkley (Moore) goes with one of their daughters, Cora (Elizabeth Risdon). Barkley and Lucy don't like this idea. Knowing they are not getting any younger, they do not like the idea of being separated, unsure of when they will be able to live together.
The children do not hide the fact that the parents are not welcome. They disturb the children's usually pattern of entertaining guest and nights out. Someone must be home to watch the parents at all times. Barkley doesn't even get his own room. Instead he has to sleep on a couch. But when he is sick and a doctor is called, his daughter, knowing how terrible such a sight as an old man sleeping on a couch is, pretends he has been staying in a nice bed. Lucy must share a room with her grand-daughter, who feels her grandmother is invading her privacy.
If you've seen this film before or if you have seen "Tokyo Story" you know the film's basic message. People are selfish and unkind. I'm sure the children love their parents in their own way but as soon as things become slightly burdensome, suddenly the children resent their parents. The film argues that society is heartless. People may put on happy faces but deep down people don't want to be bothered with others.
I was not as touched by "Make Way For Tomorrow" as I was by "Tokyo Story" but both films make the viewer think about themselves and their own relationship with their parents or loved ones. As we watch films such as these it is only natural our affections lean towards the elderly parents but, lets not kid ourselves. If we were put in the same situation we would act the same way. I have a sick grandmother who lives with us. Do I do everything I can for her? Probably not. I could do more.
You may want to argue the film is an examination of Americans and fast paced city life. We put such importance on silly things that the truly important things in our lives take a side step. We have to watch that baseball game. And it is a matter of life or death if we don't see our friends or go out for a drink. But taking care of the sick. Showing kindness to a stranger, well, that's someone else's problem. But don't be so fast to condemn American living. As I said Ozu's "Tokyo Story" is similar. Ozu was a well respected director in his homeland. More so than Kurosawa, who was thought to be too western. This proves the ideas in the film are universal. Everyone, no matter where you are from, can take a lesson from this film.
The film does have some bright spots. The couple spend a night together, going back to the spots they went to on their honeymoon 50 years ago. It is strangers who show them kindness, even if some have some dubious intentions at first, people are moved by their story. How strongly they love each other after 50 years.
Is their a place in modern society for a film such as this? There should be but will young audiences want to see a film such as this? I'm not sure. They will laugh at it. They will call it sappy, which it is, but the emotions it brings about our sincere. It is the best kind of sappy. I like sentimental movies, if done properly.
Most of the acting in the film is pretty good. The film focuses more on Lucy than Barkley. And that is perhaps best. Victor Moore was mostly a comic actor. He was Fred Astaire's buddy in "Swing Time". His voice lends itself to comedy with its squeaky pitch. Some suggest he was the inspiration for Elmer Fudd. The part demanded a serious actor. But maybe because McCarey was known for comedy, he felt Moore could handle the part. It was a mistake on his part. You almost feel as if Moore desperately wants to get a wise-crack in.
"Make Way For Tomorrow" is no longer available on VHS. And don't even talk to me about DVD. The film is not very well remembered today so unless audiences make some noise about bringing it to DVD I doubt it will happen. It is a forgotten film. If you are lucky, maybe one day Turner Classic Movies will play it. It is worth watching. It is a reminder that we live in a cold, heartless world and we need to show kindess to others.
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