Never Say Goodbye * (1946, Errol Flynn, Eleanor Parker, Lucile Watson, S Z Sakall, Forrest Tucker, Donald Woods, Peggy Knudsen, Tom D’Andrea, Hattie McDaniel, Patti Brady) – Classic Movie Review 11,641

Director James V Kern’s 1946 black and white Warner Bros American comedy-drama romance film Never Say Goodbye stars Errol Flynn as a successful graphic designer called Phil Gayley and Eleanor Parker as his ex-wife, Ellen Gayley, both living in New York City.

Both stars do their best with an ancient tale about a divorced couple who discover they cannot live apart when their daughter, known as Flip (Patti Brady), schemes to get them back together again. They have been divorced for one year. Phil is renowned for his series of swimsuit models in exotic poses, the Gayley Girls, and Ellen was a one-time Gayley Girl.

The clichés come thick and slow in this flat and tedious comedy, though some of the funny and talented people in the support cast provide blessed comic relief.

Warner Bros was trying for a new Flynn image, but a marital comedy was not his rightful territory: he is OK though, even if it is hard to imagine him as a calendar artist.

It is Flynn’s first comedic role since Footsteps in the Dark (1941).

Ben Barzman and Norma Barzman wrote the original story, originally known as Don’t Ever Leave Me, and I.A.L. Diamond and James V Kern wrote the screenplay, with adaptation by Lewis R Foster.

Humphrey Bogart (uncredited) dubbed Flynn’s dialogue when Phil assumes a tough guy persona to intimidate Fenwick (Forrest Tucker).

Filming took place in August 1945.

It was popular enough, taking $2,603,000 on a cost of $1,011,000.

It has no relation to Never Say Goodbye (1956).

The cast are Errol Flynn as Phil Gayley, Eleanor Parker as Ellen Gayley, Lucile Watson as Mrs Hamilton, S Z Sakall as Luigi, Forrest Tucker as Corporal Fenwick Lonkowski, Donald Woods as Rex DeVallon, Peggy Knudsen as Nancy Graham, Tom D’Andrea as Jack Gordon, Hattie McDaniel as Cozy and Patti Brady as Phillippa ‘Flip’ Gayley.

Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,641

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