Now and Forever
Directed by Henry Hathaway
1934/USA
Paramount Pictures
First viewing
Penelope Day: Daddy doesn’t know anything about raising children.
Gary Cooper pays con man Jerry Day who travels the world one step ahead of the law with his wife Toni (Carole Lombard). In China, he announces that he has a child and is going to sign her over to his ex-brother-in-law for $75,000. Toni doesn’t care for this scheme and they separate. Naturally, Jerry falls in love with Penny (Shirley Temple) as soon as they meet and the two reunite with Toni. Jerry tries to go straight but is constantly tempted by a fellow con man (Guy Standing) who has something on him. With Charlotte Granville as the society matron who wants to take care of Penny.
This movie is quite a departure from Shirley’s normal fare. First of all, her part is secondary to the two adult leads, though she does get equal billing. She does not play her normal role of bringing two people together for love of her and there is almost no singing. It’s quite a dark story with an ambiguous ending. That said, this is no better than your average melodrama of the time period. Gary Cooper is an unlikely con man and Carole Lombard doesn’t have much of a chance to be wacky.
