Never Say Goodbye

This film stars Errol Flynn and Eleanor Parker as a reluctantly divorced couple whose seven-year old daughter, Flip, desperately wants to see back together. In this film, you get the sense that it was Parker's mother who pushed for the divorce voicing her constant suspicions about Flynn--suspicions which stemmed from Flynn's career as a commercial artist. Errol agrees with Flip and wants nothing more than to win Parker back.

Sure, it's not an award contender and it's not even among Flynn or Parker's best performances, but I love this film. It's fluffy, it's sappy, but whatever. I enjoy it. Flynn sings in the film. He dresses like Santa. He participates in a parody of the mirror scene in Duck Soup. He does a hilarious Bogart impression (which Bogart's real voice dubbed in). Parker is gorgeous. Flynn is gorgeous. Flip is funny. SZ Sakall is funny. Hattie McDaniel is funny. It's just a great feel good minor classic Christmas film. I'd recommend it.

Never Say Goodbye was one of three films Errol Flynn did for Warner Brothers where apparently Jack Warner tried to change his action hero image somewhat and broaden his appeal. No doubt at the behest of Flynn himself who was complaining to Jack Warner the same way Tyrone Power was doing over at 20th Century Fox with Darryl Zanuck.

Errol's a little less than heroic here, just your average divorced father who happens to be a commercial artist. He and Eleanor Parker have been divorced a couple of years now, but daughter Patti Brady so wants them back together again, especially as a Christmas wish.

Errol's willing enough, but he's got some stiff competition in the persons of Donald Woods who is courting Parker and Marine Forrest Tucker who Brady's been writing to. On the imbecilic instructions of her dear old dad who knows what Marines like, she sends a picture of Mommy in a bathing suit. Of course that piques Tucker's interest quite a bit. Errol himself has model Peggy Knudsen interested in him, but she's not going to wait around forever.

Add to this scene stealing veterans like Lucille Watson as Parker's mother and restaurateur S.Z. Sakall and you've got the makings of a nice family type picture, the kind that Errol Flynn so rarely made in his career. Flynn does fine in the part, but for comedy he's far better in Footsteps In The Dark as the millionaire/mystery writer. Flynn's first effort at comedy was The Perfect Specimen done early in his career with Joan Blondell. I've not seen that one, I do so wish TCM would run it.

Never Say Goodbye neither changed Flynn's image with the movie-going public nor did it chart any new directions for him. But it's a pleasant enough comedy diversion. Note that 'imitation' of another Warner Brothers star towards the end.

a fine romantic comedy. errol flynn shows what a deft touch for comedy he possessed. a talent that probably shows some of his true prankster self. the comedic writing on this film is excellent. eleanor parker does a nice job as flynn's ex wife whom errol is trying to win back. eleanor is also easy on the eyes. the sets exude 1940's glamour and style where appropriate.

flynn's comedic timing and wit are displayed to full effect here, watch his double takes, his ability to verbally counter punch with a snappy comeback or act the straight man, and his total believability and sincerity where required, this guy could act! it is a shame errol did not get a chance to do more roles like this throughout his career, he was multi-talented to the extreme. if you enjoyed "it happened one night" with gable and colbert or some of the william powell and myrna loy comedies you will enjoy this.

well paced and lots of laughs. a lost diamond of a movie.

The premise is one of those that could go either way of charming and fun or corny and over-sentimental. Yet, after it appeared as a recommendation here, 'Never Say Goodbye' immediately had me intrigued reading up on it. Have always liked Errol Flynn in his swashbuckling adventure roles and seeing him do comedy was a big interest point. The rest of the cast are a very talented bunch, including Eleanor Parker, Lucile Watson and SZ Sackall.

'Never Say Goodbye' didn't disappoint me and it turned out, despite not being perfect, to exceed my quite high expectations. It is a lovely film and deserves to be a lot better known, proving that Flynn could indeed do comedy very well and should have had more chances to show that. After seeing a fair share of disappointing films recently and going through a difficult period health-wise, 'Never Say Goodbye' was something of a breath of fresh air.

Maybe it is a little too sickly sweet to begin with, one can feel and taste the sugar at the beginning. The ending also felt a little too easy and safe, it certainly wraps things up so that was good but it does so too neatly.

Anybody that criticises 'Never Say Goodbye' as being cliched is right, it is cliched and in a somewhat recycled way. Donald Woods has a thankless role and is pretty bland in it.

However, it is really difficult to be too hard on 'Never Say Goodbye'. Flynn is his usual dashing self, while also showing ounces of charm and energy and with no signs of being taxed in comedy. Parker doesn't have as interesting a role, but she is also very charming. Patti Brady is adorable and just about avoids being too cloying, apart from at the start perhaps, and doesn't overplay the precociousness. Watson does snobbish beautifully, with force and acid wit, while Hattie McDaniel is both amusing and endearing. Sakall is a lot of fun and Forrest Tucker is beautifully restrained and reassuring. The characters are ones that may be stereotypes but aren't thin or personality-free ones, Woods excepted, and they are worth rooting for. Tucker's character is so loveable.

Really liked the writing on the most part, even if it is not the most original or inspired it to me was at least written well. The humour is breezily timed and very amusing (hilarious in the case of the mirror scene parody that would make the Marx Brothers proud) and the sentiment is sincere, warms the heart and tugs at the heart-strings. The pace is bright and breezy and the chemistry between the cast is beautifully done. It's directed with a loving and not too heavy hand, and handles the comedy, sentiment and cuteness well. The film is very nicely shot as well.

In conclusion, a more than worthwhile watch and underseen regardless of its flaws. 7/10

I agree with most of the comments I've read. The 'Luigi' character is flustered and hilarious, especially at the beginning. While it's a fluff look at serious divorce and the heartache it plays on children, and though there's a goofy lawyer but no corresponding goofy judge; the main thing here is the wonderful child actor, the mysterious Patti Brady as the precocious daughter 'Flip.'

She is so much more natural and delightful than her predecessor Shirley Temple, I don't understand why she didn't continue on for more than a few years. I went and looked up the time frame to see if Shirley could have been copying her, but no, I guess it was the other way around.

This girl went beyond the normal child stereotypes and would have been an improvement in many other Christmas & family & WW II movies (tied in by young giant, Tucker's Marine character, 'Wickie'). I can't find anything on Brady; she must have kept private, later.

When you're watching the stream of standard Christmas repeats, don't miss this one!! It's B&W, but still worth it.