Ne dites jamais adieu

I thought this was very well done and quite funny. Predictable of course, but great script. I laughed out loud a few times. I wasn't that crazy about the contrived ending that seemed more like a cop out (literally) to wrap things up, but up until the end the action is fast paced, lively and hilarious at times.Flynn does a great job as the father. There are some funny references to other movies, such as Robin Hood and Christmas in Connecticut. Sparks fly between the 2 stars and the supporting cast is great, especially Cuddles and the little girl. Even though I wouldn't consider this a Xmas themed movie, if you are looking for something fresh and new (in terms of if you haven't seen it yet) instead of A Christmas Carol or It's A Wonderful Life, try this as a family friendly Xmas alternative.

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.

Errol Flynn is a highly successful commercial artist trying to reconcile with his ex-wife (Eleanor Parker) in "Never Say Goodbye," a 1946 comedy featuring Patti Brady, S. Z. Zakal, Lucile Watson, Hattie McDaniel and Donald Woods.

Phil Gayley's (Flynn) philandering (he draws beautiful women in swimsuits) caused the breakup with his former wife Ellen. As a result, their 8-year-old daughter Phillipa (Brady), whose nickname is Flip, spends six months with her father in New York City and six months with her mother, who also lives in New York City.

Flip wants her parents back together in one place. They want it, too, but every time it's about to happen, a woman shows up because Phil forgot he made a date with her.

Then a marine (Forrest Tucker) comes to town, eager to meet the woman who has been writing to him. It's Flip, with the help of a book and the typing of her nanny (McDaniel).

There was one other helper - Phil, who when Flip wanted to send her photo, suggested she send her mother's instead. The marines land just at the right time, when Ellen is out to give Phil a dose of his own medicine.

This is a rather silly script that is helped immensely by a fine supporting cast, the incredible charm of Errol Flynn and the loveliness - and gorgeous gowns -- of Eleanor Parker. She is stunning in this movie, and, as a fan of hers, why her star didn't burn brighter in Hollywood is beyond me.

Flynn was wonderful in light comedy, and many people believe it was the right niche for him. The problem is, other actors did comedy as well or better, and Flynn's swashbuckling/adventure work is exceptional. However, it's always fun to see him in something different.

His Bogart imitation is suspiciously good; that's because Bogart dubbed the voice. In "Never Say Goodbye," he is just beginning to show a little dissipation around the edges; the major part of his career would be over four years later. It was too short a run.

As others have mentioned, the best part of the film occurs with the appearance of Forrest Tucker, so young he's practically unrecognizable. In fact, he's 27! Worth seeing for the cast.

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.

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