The Gift of Love

Maybe not as good as Sentimental Journey - 1946, but then I've never seen the original. I did enjoy watching The Gift Of Love, if only for little Hitty (Evelyn Rudie). She was so adorable and I've always liked Lauren Bacall and Robert Stack. I don't think this movie was at all bad, as some have purported it to be. It was the 50s and movies were like that. B movie or not, it's certainly better than the garbage you see today. Just look at all the remakes of many movies today; they're all terribly done. I can't help being partial to classics and old movies because I was a child in the 50s. Some of my favorite moments were watching these movies. Unlike today's TV fare, you could always expect to watch something entertaining, and without all of the foul language, sexual content, etc. that you generally see today.

Watching The Gift Of Love tonight made me wonder about the original film made from this story, Sentimental Journey. Having never seen that one I wondered if it was marginally better because this one is a two bath towel special.

There is a brief prologue of sorts where a doctor's receptionist Lauren Bacall meets scientist Robert Stack who's gone in for a consultation about insomnia. She decides to take the case personally and her cure is a couple of martinis. Before you know it they're in love and married.

Married for five years and no children. Then Bacall learns she's got a serious heart ailment that will cut her life short. Her concern is for Stack because even after five years the passion is still intense. Her solution is adopt a child even though she'll not be an adoptive mother long. Redirect his passion with what she believes will be The Gift Of Love.

The gift in the flesh is little Evelyn Rudie, a strange child who can't seem to get adopted. Still she and Bacall take to each other. The crisis comes for Stack and Rudie when Bacall dies.

Stack and Bacall are reunited as a husband and wife as they were in Written On The Wind. There Stack played an unhinged character and here he's a bit unhinged as well as being all consumed with his scientific research until Bacall gives him a domestic life as well. The two of them make this film bearable.

Otherwise The Gift Of Love is awash with sentiment and bathos. It's definitely a film to prepare yourself with a pair of bath towels at the ready.

Two years after "written on the wind" ,here they are again: Lauren Bacall and Robert Stack ; like in Douglas Sirk's classic ,they get married and they haven't got any children.There the comparison ends .Although the cast and credits and the sparkling colors are enthusing , Jean Negulesco is no match for Sirk.

Besides,this is a remake of "sentimental journey" , in which the leads were Maureen O 'Hara and John Payne ; one should notice that the part of William Bendix , who shared top billing with both stars , has been reduced ,and Lorne Greene who replaces him is only supporting .

Like O'Hara in the original film,one finds it hard to believe Bacall has a heart condition ; ditto for Stark: a masculine man,he's as miscast as Payne .And he's not very credible as an astronomer ,solving his equations . By and large ,"sentimental journey" was more convincing ;a ghostly Julie says :" you both were looking for me ,and you've missed each other "; these appearances beyond the grave -except for the last picture -have been suppressed in the color version: the little girl hears her adoptive mom's voice ,but we do not hear it .Evelyn Rudie is a cute little girl ,but they had her overplay in the scenes when she neighs (brays more like).To have her return to the orphanage was an unnecessary change .

Vic Damone's syrupy song hints at the Fall,when the leaves fall down ,which indicates that the character will have to brace themselves when tragedy strikes.

From the very beginning, where Vic Damone sings the BEAUTIFUL Title Song, to the end where I sit teary-eyed, again, I LOVE this film. I also loved the original, "Sentimental Journey" just as much. Both may be a bit unrealistic in today's no-room-for-sentiment world, but they are heartwarming and wonderful movies that most women of my generation appreciate and WANT to see-----------often! This movie is NOT shown often enough. Lauren Bacall is as beautiful as beautiful gets and Robert Stack gives a fine performance. I did notice that the lovely background music played throughout both films, is basically the same song, but played to a somewhat different beat. In both films, even the music pulls at your heartstrings. One of my favorites!

I was quite young (around 14) when I saw this movie on TV. While I could not remember the cast very much at that time, the story and the way the actors/actresses had carried the story through made a lasting impression on me - what it means when any child can be your child - it takes only to show love and how it can fill the gaps in our lives. This story of this film helped me to help many of my friends who did not have their own children and that they can enjoy the gift if they open their minds and hearts to them - as the leading lady impresses upon the husband. The beginning of romance between the two and the moments they draw together and next when we see them as a couple are all well portrayed.