Always in My Heart (1942)

In sunny Santa Rita, a Southern California town, school-aged soprano Gloria Warren (as Victoria "Vicky" Scott) fancies herself a singer. She is not happy that fashion-conscious mother Kay Francis (as Marjorie "Mudge" Scott) is considering a second marriage, although it could help send Ms. Warren to an expensive professional school. Before her wedding, Ms. Francis visits ex-husband Walter Huston (as MacKenzie "Mac" Scott) in Chicago. That he is a musician and songwriter should tell you something about the film's progression. MacKenzie's "Peyton Place"-like secret is that Mr. Huston is in prison. The couple agreed to divorce after Huston was (falsely) convicted, so Francis could raise the children without shame...Then Huston receives a sudden pardon...In the higher octaves, this film can cause mental anguish. But the title song is catchy; "Always in My Heart" became a big sheet music and record hit in 1942. There is good support from Warren's cute teenage brother Frankie Thomas (as Martin "Marty" Scott), their blustery maid Una O'Connor (as Angie) and her pert preteen Patti Hale (as Booley). Huston's competition is wealthy Sidney Blackmer (as Philip Ames), while sexy Armida (as Lolita) causes trouble for young Thomas. Interesting to note Montgomery Clift played the part in Thomas Mitchell's 1935 Broadway comedy, then titled "Fly Away Home". Director Joseph "Jo" Graham does well with the street scenes, especially a rousing variation of the title that likely sent harmonica sales rising.****** Always in My Heart (3/14/42) Jo Graham ~ Gloria Warren, Kay Francis, Walter Huston, Frankie Thomas

If you want to see the magnificent Walter Huston at his best, try "Dodsworth". The problem with "Always In My Heart" is that it's a movie that can't quite decide which genre it fits. Had the producer and director gone with a straight drama, the result would have been better.What's good here? Well, Walter Huston is the real attraction here. What a gem of an actor he was! Here he is an ex-con at a time when that didn't have quite the stigma it has nowadays. I also enjoyed the slice of Americana displayed here.And, Kay Francis, a very fine, but often forgotten actress today, portrays Huston's wife who is about to get remarried, thinking Huston will never get out of prison. Sidney Blackmer, a very pleasant character actor, is the new husband-to-be. And, the almost perpetual maid -- Una O'Connor -- a hoot in any film is here. You also get to see John Hamilton who later was Perry White in the "Superman" television series. As an extra treat, there's an early performance of Borrah Minevitch and His Harmonica Rascals, which more viewers will recognize from their appearances on television in the 1950s after they morphed into being Johnny Puleo & The Harmonicats (with Puleo being remembered as a dwarf). The title song is a great ballad covered by many vocalists over the years. What's bad here? The operatic singing of the daughter (played by Gloria Warren). It's not bad, but so out of style today that you just wanna say, "SHUT UP!" And finally she did just that in her fairly short film career! The climax of the film seems a bit overdramtic, although it does work in the story. Maybe just overdone a tad. If there's a real problem with this film it's that it is, sometimes, a bit corny and sentimental. But, what's wrong with that. That's how life is sometimes.For Huston's performance alone I'd give this film a "7".

I watched this on cable TV, and was delighted with the characters and their bonds of love. The love and understanding of "Munch" for "Mac" made it an uplifting story of how love transcends the years and rough times. I thoroughly enjoyed the contrast of Borrah Minevitch and His Harmonica Rascals with the otherwise serious elements of the movie. It reminded me of the contrast between John Denver and Placido Domingo singing "Perhaps Love", two beautifully competent musicians of different genres and cultures coming together to make beautiful music! It made the movie interesting, and I enjoyed the humor and music of Borrah and those harmonicas! If I could find it, I'd purchase the DVD for myself and one for my mother, who also loved it!

I have seen this movie over 20 times. Every time it moved in me the deepest feelings about family, friendship, solidarity, truth, happiness and the joy of music. The husband who is a musical composer and is in prison, has lost all hope about joining his family again. He directs the orchestra in prison which is playing his composition "alwasy in my heart" at the time his wife visits him. He tells her to go ahead and marry again. Next day he finds out he has been given an "indult" and is free. He decides to pass by his town just to see his children and then leave. His children did not know he was alive (his wife had said that to them attending his request) so they meet him as a stranger who likes music and plays "always in my heart" to an audience where his daughter is present together with a group of harmonica players. Things happened in that visit. Manuel