It Happened Tomorrow

Directed by René Clair, It Happened Tomorrow details the happenings that ensue after an obituary writer (Dick Powell’s Lawrence Stevens) finds himself in possession of a newspaper with the following day’s date. It’s a stirring premise that’s employed to mildly watchable (yet entirely disappointing) effect by Clair, as the filmmaker, armed with a script written alongside Dudley Nichols, delivers a sluggish endeavor that rarely (if ever) exploits its irresistible setup to the degree one might’ve anticipated (and hoped for) – with the picture instead focused on several far-from-engrossing subplots and digressions. (This is particularly true of everything involving Jack Oakie’s mind-reader and his niece (Linda Darnell’s Sylvia), with whom Lawrence eventual begins a tiresome, tedious romance.) It’s clear, then, that It Happened Tomorrow improves considerably once it progresses into a far less comedic second half, as the focus is eventually placed on Lawrence’s relatively compelling efforts at changing the grim fate laid out for him by said newspaper – which, when coupled with a satisfying climax and closing few minutes, does confirm the movie’s place as a decent-enough sci-fi tale that feels like it could (and should) be better.

**1/2 out of ****