You Came Along | |
---|---|
Directed by | John Farrow |
Produced by | Hal B. Wallis |
Screenplay by |
|
Based on | "Don't Ever Grieve Me" (story) by Robert Smith |
Starring | |
Music by | Victor Young |
Cinematography | Daniel L. Fapp |
Edited by | Eda Warren |
Production
company |
|
Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date
|
|
Running time
|
102–103 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
You Came Along (aka Don't Ever Grieve Me (working title) ) is a 1945 romantic comedy-drama set in World War II, directed by John Farrow. The original Robert Smith screenplay was rewritten by Ayn Rand. You Came Along stars Robert Cummings and in her film debut, Lizabeth Scott.
The plot involves an US Army Air Forces (USAAF) officer who tries to hide his terminal medical condition from a U.S. Treasury Department public relations staff member, whom he just met before a war bond drive. They become romantically involved, agreeing it's "just fun up in the air." When she finds out the truth, she makes a fateful decision to make the most of the little time they have together.
You Came Along opens with a stanza from the poem "The Sermon of St. Francis" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:
During World War II, three highly decorated USAAF officers return to Washington, D.C. after a combat tour in Europe:Major Robert "Bob" Collins (Robert Cummings), Captain W. "Shakespeare" Anders (Don DeFore) and Lieutenant R. "Handsome" Janoschek (Charles Drake). Shakespeare and Handsome are assigned to fly cross-country in a Beech C-45 Expeditor for a war bond tour. Bob, at first is not allowed to accompany them.
In a running gag, the three officers are expecting to meet "I. V. Hotchkiss," from the Treasury Department. During a press conference at the airport, Bob slips away to find Mr. Hotchkiss who turns out to be Ivy (Lizabeth Scott),a beautiful young woman, whose name was misspelled in Bob's orders. Her boss was injured in a car accident on the way to the airport, so she took over. Bob is incredulous at the idea of an ingénue being the chaperone of three older men, and requests a "briefing room." Despite being miffed at his patronizing attitude, she complies. The airport manager warns that her charges have the appearance of being "wolves," but Ivy replies "But I don't happen to be Little Red Riding Hood."