Never Say Goodbye (1946)

Directed by James Kern. Starring Errol Flynn, Eleanor Parker, S. Z. Sakall, Forrest Tucker, Donald Woods, Peggy Knudsen, Lucile Watson, Patti Brady, Tom D’Andrea, Hatti McDaniel.

Flynn brandishes nary a rapier nor rifle—and mostly wears contemporary duds—in this light comedy change of pace. He’s been on the outs with wife Parker for a year now, but he and daughter Brady are more interested in conspiring for reconciliation than settling for divorce, but that’s easier said than done when interference is being run by, among others, her lawyer (Woods) and a US Marine suitor (Tucker). Flynn’s game, but he’s hardly a first-class farceur, often relying on gimmicks to get laughs, such as showy disguises (it’s Santa!), tough-guy dubbing (Humphrey Bogart provides an uncredited voice cameo), and revamped vaudeville (a watered-down riff on the Marx Brothers mirror scene). As for Parker, she’s lovely enough, but the role is written too straight—she’s practically a pushover even when flirting and scheming. Agreeable enough, but overly episodic and it never really catches fire. Co-scripted by I. A. L. Diamond.

61/100