IT ALL CAME TRUE

US, 1940, 97 minutes, Black and white.
Ann Sheridan, Jeffrey Lynn, Humphrey Bogart, Zasu Pitts, Una O’ Connor, Jessie Busley, John Litel, Grant Mitchell, Felix Bressart.
Directed by Lewis Seiler.

It All Came True is based on a novel by Louis Bromfield, popular at the period for his novel The Rains Came.

The film is a comedy – a touch of Arsenic and Old Lace with two old ladies running a boarding house. However, the gangster hiding away is played by Humphrey Bogart – and showing his flair as a comedian, good timing and double takes.

The film focuses on Jeffrey Lynn as a composer, caught up with the gangsters, framed for a murder by Humphrey Bogart. He takes him home to his mother’s boarding house and the gangster hides away. However, the daughter of one of the old ladies comes back. She is played by Ann Sheridan, the Oomph Girl, showing plenty of oomph. She is able to promote her career and that of Jeffrey Lynn with the gangster.

There is a range of eccentric people living in the boarding house, Zasu Pitts as a middle-aged woman who feels that men are following her, Grant Mitchell as a self-inflated poet, Felix Bressart as a magician – who does some funny turns, especially with the help and the hindrance of his dog. Una O’ Connor and Jessie Busley portray the old ladies.

While there is comedy, there is also a range of music, especially Angel in Disguise, sung by Ann Sheridan. However, at the end of the film, when the gangster has turned the boarding house into a nightclub, there is a range of music and performances that might echo an MGM or Fox musical of the period. (Particularly interesting is a group of older ladies who suddenly burst into song, old favourites, as well as some modern movements!)

1. An entertainment of 1940? Warner Bros drawing on the gangster films? Their comedies? A pleasant combination?

2. New York setting, black and white photography, the focus on the nightclubs, the action in the boarding house, old style – and called The Roaring 90s when it becomes a nightclub?

3. The musical score, the range of songs, Angel in Disguise? The medleys of old hits of the first two decades of the 20th century? Ann Sheridan’s performances?

4. The presentation of the boarding house, the two old ladies, their long friendship? Maggie and her daughter? Nora and her son? Her making up happy stories about her son – hoping that it will all come true? Their work together, running the boarding house, the guests, the kitchen?

5. The range of guests: Zasu Pitts as Miss Flint, dithery, feeling that men were following her? Her flirtatious nature? Reading detective stories? Discovering Chips Maguire’s true identity? Grant Mitchell as the self-inflated poet, his recitation? Felix Bressart as The Great Boldini, his performances, the dog?

6. Sarah Jane coming home, her verve, saying that she was not just a goodtime girl but was a good girl? Her failed jobs? Her relationship with her mother and teasing her? The clashes with Tommy, antagonism, memories of the past? In love? Her seeing Chips, identifying him? Interactions with him, using him for her family, for paying the mortgage? For promoting her career, Tommy’s? Her performances?

7. The Cairo Club, Chips as a gangster, the books, Tommy playing the piano, the police raid, the escape, burning the accounts? The shooting in the street? The gun registered to Tommy? Their going to the boarding house? Chips becoming Mr Grasselli? Staying in the room? The character of Grasselli, wanting to be alone? His being fussed over by the two women, his being anti-mothering? The comedy of his hiding, the meals, getting to the bathroom? Discovered by Sarah Jane? Their past relationship? His decision to come down, play cards, cheating? The performances, his laughing at The Great Boldini, liking the dog? His hold over Tommy? His gratitude towards Mrs Taylor? The visits from his lawyer? The plan to turn the house into a nightclub, the rapid transition? Lavish? His enjoying the performances? The detectives coming? His framing Tommy – but doing the right thing at the end, the gangster with the heart of gold?

8. Miss Flint, her drinking, frightened by Sal with the story of cement barrels? Her drinking, going to the police? Their coming to the house? The comedy of her being scared?

9. The performances, the guests, the range of songs?

10. The happy ending – and it all came true? A combination of fairy tale, comedy, musical, gangster film?