Today We Live

During World War I, a woman (Joan Crawford) pledges herself to her brother’s (Franchot Tone) friend (Robert Young) only to fall for a visiting American (Gary Cooper).

Today We Live stars as a muddled melodrama but eventually morphs into a solid war drama. It just takes far too long to get there.

The cast’s charisma makes the opening hour bearable. Joan Crawford does a surprisingly decent British accent, and its novel to see such a young Gary Cooper. Franchot Tone and Robert Young comprise the solid supporting cast, but that’s part of the problem. You see, Crawford has zero chemistry with either of her two love interests, Cooper and Young, but it was here that she met her future husband, Franchot Tone, who, unfortunately, plays her brother.

This really doesn’t feel like a Howard Hawks film until the final quarter. Only then does his familiar theme of men under stress shouldering an immense burden simply because it’s their job begin to develop. Its no coincidence that here’s where the story also takes off, generating a real investment in the characters, as well as some dynamic action on screen.

Given its already overlong running time, it’s amazing that over 20 minutes was cut from the initial preview before general release. Of course, that’s probably indicative of the fact that the producers knew they had a problem picture, but the reality is that problems like this should be solved at the script stage, not in the editing room.

That said, unless you’re a big fan of the stars, Today We Live isn’t really worth a look. But if you must, at least have the fast-forward button at the ready.