Because of Him

1946

Technical Information:

Studio: Universal
Running Time: 1 hour, 28 minutes
Black and White
Video Availability: Available on MCA/Universal home video.

Cast:

Deanna Durbin...Kim Walker
Charles Laughton... John Sheridan
Franchot Tone...Paul Taylor
Helen Broderick...Nora
Stanley Ridges...Charles Gilbert
Donald Meek...Martin
Regina Wallace...Head Nurse
Charles Halton...Mr. Dunlap
Douglas Wood...Samuel Hargood

Credits:

Associate Producer...Howard Christie
Screenplay by...Edmund Beloin
Original Story by...Edmund Beloin and Sig Herzig
Musical Score...Mikos Rozsa
Musical Direction for Miss Durbin...Edgar Fairchild
Director of Photography...Hal Mohr, A.S.C.
Art Direction...John B. Goodman, Robert Clatworthy
Director of Sound...Bernard B. Brown
Technician...Joe Lapis
Vocal Coach...Al Proctor
Film Editor...Ted J. Kent
Hair Stylist...Carmen Dirigo
Director of Make-Up...Jack P. Pierce
Costumes...Travis Banton
Assistant Director...William Holland
Set Decorations...R.A. Gausman, Oliver Emert
Produced by...Felix Jackson
Directed by...Richard Wallace

After a year of success, famed actor John Sheridan (Charles Laughton) has decided to end his run of the hit play "Cyrano de Bergerac." Backstage after his performance, Paul Taylor (Franchot Tone) tries to convince John that actress Marsha Vale will be perfect as the female lead in his new play "Strange Laughter," in which John is set to star. John disagrees with the writer, however, saying that he wants someone with more freshness. He gets ready to go to a lodge in the Adirondacks to rest before starting work on Taylor's play. While on his way out of the theater, an autograph seeker named Kim Walker (Deanna Durbin) tries unsuccessfully for the stage great's autograph.

Kim, dejected, heads off to her job as a waitress at a popular oyster bar. Unexpectedly, John Sheridan himself drops by before catching his train to the Adirondacks and sits at one of Kim's tables! This time, Kim manages to get John's autograph on a piece of paper. What John doesn't know is that he has actually signed a letter of introduction "written" by himself for Kim. Kim's boss (Charles Halton) fires her, though she doesn't care much, since she now has a chance of becoming an actress on the stage.

While on her way to the office of Charles Gilbert (Stanley Ridges), a successful Broadway producer, Paul Taylor sees Kim and, attracted to her, tries to get her phone number, although to no avail. Meanwhile, Gilbert is attempting to locate John, who hasn't called from his lodge yet. Kim successfully uses her letter of introduction to meet Gilbert. During their meeting, Paul walks in. He and Kim recognize each other, and she leads him to believe that she is actually a close friend of John Sheridan's. Gilbert tells Paul that she is perfect for the female role in "Strange Laughter" though Paul insists on having a more experienced actress. After Paul leaves, columnist Walter Daniels (?) drops by. Gilbert tells him that a party will be thrown in Kim's honor at John's apartment, to celebrate her winning the lead role in Paul's new play.

Paul is shocked when he hears the columnist announce over the air that not only has Kim Walker landed the lead in "Strange Laughter," but also that she and John Sheridan are to be married! Angry at hearing this, Paul calls John's apartment where he speaks with a surprised Kim. He informs her that he'll try anything possible to keep her out of his play.

Suddenly, John comes home to find the party being held at his residence. Kim is shocked at his unexpected arrival and, to avoid an embarassing scene, pretends to faint in his arms. Once alone, John asks her who she is, and that she should practice her fainting methods. When he finds out that she duped him into signing the letter of introduction to snag the role, he is understandably upset, but decides to help her out anyway. He escorts her home. They begin talking and he takes a likening to her. John then tells her that she can't be in the play, which disappoints Kim immensely.

To get revenge on John Sheridan for taking away her role, Kim's room-mate Nora (Helen Broderick) calls a newspaper and says that Kim attempted suicide because of John. Kim is upset that Nora would do such a thing, until she realizes that the publicity could work to her advantage. The fabricated story soon hits all the major newspapers. When John hears the news, he immediately goes to see Kim, and soon realizes that her suicide attempt was just as phoney as her fainting spell the night before. He reluctantly agrees to take her out nightclubbing.

After their date, John tells Kim that she does indeed have promise and, after a lot of practice, he can help her in a few years. However, when Kim sings a song for him, he is so moved that he gives her the part on the spot. They go over the script together, and Kim returns home late. As she approaches her apartment, she finds Paul waiting for her. When Paul heard the news of Kim's "near-suicide", he felt guilty, since he believed that his not wanting her to be in "Strange Laughter" compelled her to take such drastic measures. He apologizes for his behavior. One thing leads to another and the two soon kiss under the moonlight. Paul then realizes that she is right for the part. However, when Paul finds out that the suicide attempt was fake, and that John had already given her a script (and the part!), he becomes angry at being deceived and storms out.

At rehearsal for the play, Paul criticizes Kim's performance and berates her. John yells at him for being so insensitive, which leads to Paul's quitting the play. Just before "Strange Laughter"'s opening, it hits the newspapers that Paul is suing to have his name removed from it. Kim asks Paul to attend the dress rehearsal so that he can at least see it, though he refuses.

On opening night, Kim is nervous but it doesn't affect her performance. Paul, incognito at the theater, hears the audience raving about the play during intermission. He sneaks in and goes backstage, where John manages to see him waiting in the wings. John, realizing that the two are actually in love beneath their differences, improvises the ending so that Kim ends up in Paul's arms, with everything seemingly forgiven between them.

Songs:

[Songs performed by Deanna Durbin in boldface]
"Lover" (Rodgers, Hart)
"Danny Boy" (Traditional)
"Goodbye" (Tosti, Whyte, Melville)

My Review:

Although Because of Him is not Deanna's greatest film, it does manage to shine in a few moments. In fact, the whole film (which is somewhat reminiscent of the far-better His Butler's Sister) could've been much better if it had a better script. The romance between Deanna Durbin and Franchot Tone is barely explored, making the ending quite lackluster. The two only have a few scenes together, and there isn't much chemistry between them even during those. Still, Deanna, Franchot, and Charles Laughton all give fantastic performances, with some choice songs mixed in. Because of Him is a pretty cute movie overall, although it does mark a downward trend in the quality of Deanna's succeeding films.

Notes:

According to a 1945 issue of "Screenland" magazine, the original title of this film was Catherine the Last.

Picture credits:
1. Movie scene courtesy of Lisa Burks.
2. Publicity still courtesy of Lisa Burks.

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