RETURN TO YESTERDAY
(Capad) When they are well-made, British films have an atmosphere of sincerity which the most lavishly-produced picture from America rarely captures. With many an American production which has been lauded to the skies, the only real atmosphere is one of opulence — and opulence, in such circumstances, is depressing. "Return to Yesterday" is an unpretentious film which probably cost less than it takes to shoot one scene in an M.-G.-M. musical. Yet, by a mixture of humour and pathos, comedy and tragedy, it captures the interest throughout. Clive Brook slightly overacts, but he is always (Continued on next page)
(Continued from previous page) delightful, with his suave, rather agonised look and his quick, expressive movements. He plays the part of a bored Hollywood idol who, to recapture the secret of his happiness as a youngster fighting for fame, returns to the little seaside theatre where he began his career. There he discovers a small but valiant Tepertory company (shades of Mr._Priestley’s "Good Companions"!), waging a determined but losing fight against provincial apathy, a crooked manager, and poverty. Brook discards his identity as Famous Film Star No. 1 and enters into their lives. Inevitably, he falls in love with the impetuous young leading lady, Carol, a process watched with disfavour by Peter, the young playwright who is in love with her. Brook, driven desperate by an unhappy marriage, offers to take Carol to America with him. But later he realises that to be kind one must sometimes be cruel-it is impossible for an actor at the top of the ladder and a young girl just beginning her career to make a success of being together — so he makes a noble exit. Despite the fact that the bored, cynical mask over the aching heart is an old tear-jerker, Clive plays that scene so well that he should be rewarded by more than a few sobs; Carol goes back to Peter, whose play has now been accepted by a big
London manager, thanks to Brook’s help. Anna Lee plays Carol. and David Tree plays Peter. See this one.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19400628.2.41.4
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 53, 28 June 1940, Page 37
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347RETURN TO YESTERDAY New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 53, 28 June 1940, Page 37
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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