You Came Along (working title Don't Ever Grieve Me) is a 1945 romantic comedy-drama film 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."Catalog of Feature Films: 'You Came Along'." AFI. Retrieved: April 19, 2017.
The plot involves a 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. Filmink called it "a guy cry movie".
You Came Along opens with a stanza from the poem "The Sermon of St. Francis" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: "He giveth you your wings to fly And breathe a purer air on high, And careth for you everywhere, Who for yourselves so little care!"Longfellow 2010, p. 328.
Plot 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.Dick 2004, p. 101. 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."
Returning to the room, Ivy breaks up the kissing session between the officers and their girlfriends, dragging the unwilling men to the aircraft. At first stern and commanding, her demeanor softens somewhat on the flight to Boston as Bob nicknames her "Hotcha."
In Boston, the three officers slip away from the bond drive, forcing Ivy to bring them back from a local nightclub, partying with showgirls in a dressing room. Despite warming up to Ivy, Bob still regards her as a killjoy, but back at the hotel, due to a mixup, he undresses for bed in Ivy's room, unaware that she is already asleep in bed. After Ivy's shock of waking up to the sight of Bob in his underwear, Shakespeare and Handsome rush into Ivy's room, adding to the chaos.
During the flight to Chicago, Ivy discovers that Shakespeare has an injured shoulder and Handsome has a prosthetic leg. When she inquires about Bob, the two men become sullen and evasive. In Chicago, Shakespeare and Handsome attend a fashion show, where they pay 50/50 for an expensive dress sent to Ivy, with a card signed "Anonymous" twice, due to Handsome's insistence that he is entitled to an "Anonymous" too. Later she and the three officers go to a nightclub. During the dance, the pair fall in love.
In Seattle, while in a café with Shakespeare, Ivy sings Out of Nowhere as she plays the piano. By happenstance, a flight surgeon, Colonel Stubbs (Rhys Williams), passes by and recognizes Shakespeare. Stubbs mentions treating an unnamed Air Force officer for leukemia. Although Shakespeare tries to pretend that Stubbs' patient died two weeks previously, Ivy guesses the patient is really Bob and that he does not have long to live. She now realizes why Shakespeare and Handsome never leave Bob alone—they do not want Bob to think about his impending death.
In Riverside, California, at the Mission Inn Fliers' Chapel, Bob attends the wedding of Ivy's sister Frances (Kim Hunter), who marries a naval aviator named Bill Allen (Robert Sully), despite having to leave overseas for combat duty. Frances "tells Ivy that she would marry her navy husband even if she knew he would not return." Inspired by her sister's example, Ivy marries Bob, the couple vowing to live life to the fullest, as long as they can. They buy a house in Long Island, New York, near the air base where Shakespeare, Handsome and Bob will be assigned. Shortly after, Bob is ordered to report to duty overseas. He tells Ivy that he is flying to London.
At the airfield, Bob and Ivy see each other off. While embracing Bob, Ivy spots Colonel Stubbs boarding Bob's flight. Then the truth of the situation hits her. Bob and Ivy agree to "No good-byes". After Bob's aircraft takes off, Ivy asks a ground crew member the direction of London — he points in the opposite direction. At home, Ivy calls Stubbs' office and finds out that he is traveling to Walter Reed Hospital, in Washington D.C.
Stoically, Ivy goes along with the charade and receives letters bearing a British address, which "are cleared through a friend of (Bob's) in England ..."One afternoon, when Shakespeare and Handsome visit Ivy's house to take her out, she receives a telegram reporting Bob's death at the hospital.
After the funeral, Shakespeare and Handsome again stop by Ivy's house and the trio toast Bob. When an aircraft buzzes the neighborhood, Ivy "hears” Bob's voice as if speaking from heaven.
Cast
Robert Cummings as Major Robert "Bob" Collins, a former engineer in civilian life Lizabeth Scott as Ivy "Hotcha" Hotchkiss, a public relations specialist from the US Treasury Department Don DeFore as Captain W. Anders, a former Nebraska college instructor nicknamed "Shakespeare" Charles Drake as Lieutenant R. Janoschek, a former boxer nicknamed "Handsome" Julie Bishop as Mrs. Taylor Kim Hunter as Frances Hotchkiss, Ivy's younger sister Robert Sully as Bill Allen, Frances' fiancée Helen Forrest as herself Rhys Williams as Colonel Stubbs, Collins' physician Lewis Russell as chairman of the Boston bond drive committee Franklin Pangborn as hotel desk clerk Hugh Beaumont as army chaplain at Collins' funeral Kristine Miller (billed as Jacqueleen Eskeson) as blonde showgirl
Production Screenplay The first version of the screenplay was written by Robert Smith, based on his short story, Don't Ever Grieve Me, which became the working title for the film. Originally conceived as a Barbara Stanwyck vehicle, producer Hal Wallis hired Ayn Rand to rewrite the script.Hannsberry 1998, p. 446. Rand wrote, "As to 'You Came Along', it was originally a very cute story—not profound, but clever and appealing."Rand and Berliner 1997, p. 232. However, Rand felt Smith's screenplay was badly written. "I kept whatever was good in the original script and wrote the rest; I got second credit which was fine even though I saved it."Branden 1987, p. 192. The Bob Collins character was originally called "Ace" in the Smith–Rand screenplays.Hayes, David P."Sustaining One’s Fervor: You Came Along." The Motion Picture Production Code. Retrieved: April 19, 2017. Lizabeth Scott's own encounter with Rand would begin a lifelong friendship. Scott would later claim that Rand "was one of the few in Hollywood whom (Scott) felt understood her ability."Holleran, Scott. "Thoughts on Lizabeth Scott." Scott Holleran. Writer, February 6, 2015. Retrieved: April 19, 2017.
The Production Code Administration subjected the screenplay to censorship from the start. Much concern was shown for the "immoral" heterosexual behavior of the three Air Force officers, as well as the alleged homosexuality of the Franklin Pangborn character. As England was a close ally of the US during the war, the American censors were concerned by the anglophobia displayed in the film and warned Paramount that the film would be censored by the British Board of Film Censors.
Casting Cummings signed a four-year contract with Wallis in January 1945. The first film was to be Don't Ever Grieve Me.SCREEN NEWS: Ida Lupino, Zachary Scott Set for 'Mrs. Carrolls' Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES 25 Jan 1945: 16.
Filming "To remind audiences that You Came Along heralded an actress's debut, Wallis added a separate credit to the main title: Introducing Lizabeth Scott." At the age of 22 in her film debut, Lizabeth Scott was already an experienced stage actress, but was met with skepticism by the production crew. Despite Scott's initial difficulties with Cummings; Jimmie Fidler and other Hollywood columnists reported feuding between Cummings and Scott on the set.Fidler, Jimmie. "Jimmie Fidler In Hollywood." Monroe Morning World (Monroe, Louisiana), January 13, 1946, p. 4. She soon gained his respect with her performance and force of personality. After shooting, Cummings even went out of his way to quench rumors that he would never work with Scott again.Johnson, Erskine. "Hollywood." Rhinelander Daily News (Rhinelander, Wisconsin), November 23, 1945, p. 4.
Cummings and Scott would again costar in Paid in Full (1950). However, Scott never made any headway with the director, John Farrow. Farrow lobbied for Teresa Wright and when he did not get her, he made his displeasure known to Scott throughout the production.Dick 2004, p. 100. You Came Along, remains, however, Scott's favorite of all the films she made. Scott as late as her 1996 interview, however, remembered John Farrow's hostility toward her on the set."Lizabeth Scott 1996 Interview Part 4 of 8." Carole Langer (Soapbox & Praeses Productions), 1996. Retrieved: May 23, 2014.
Production ran February 6–April 6, 1945. The Fliers' Chapel depicted in the film was a replica. Cummings married actress Mary Elliott at the real Fliers' Chapel on March 3, 1945.Greenwood, James R. "Meet Bob Cummings ... Actor, Pilot, Businessman." March 1960, p. 56.
A C-45 Expeditor aircraft was used for the air scenes, which were shot at the Metropolitan Airport in Van Nuys, California. Other aircraft that were seen, include Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers, Douglas C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft, Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters as well as North American AT-6 Texan and Vultee BT-13 Valiant trainers.Beck 2016, p. 222. Julie Bishop was the wife of the film's technical advisor, Colonel Clarence A. Shoop. "Robert Cummings was on leave from the Army Air Corps as a civilian flight instructor to make the film. Director John Farrow, who was sent home wounded in 1941 with the rank of commander in the Royal Canadian Navy, was recalled to service after the completion of this film." Edith Head designed Lizabeth Scott's wardrobe. Head would continue as Scott's principal dress designer to the end of Scott's film career in the late 1950s.Head 1983, p. 199.
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