It All Came True

This movie has everything but the kitchen sink. A preposterous movie that is nevertheless enjoyable.

There's Ann Sheridan, always totally likable--plus, in this movie she sings "You're Just an Angel in Disguise." There's also a funny dog act.

Humphrey Bogart plays his stock gangster role, but this time he has to deal with ZaSu Pitts and Una O'Connor as two spinsters, one a feisty spark-plug and the other delusionally lovelorn.

At one point, tough guy Bogie as much as says, "Hey, gang, let's put on a show!" And they do. That's where the dog act comes in.

Plus there's a nostalgiac Gay Nineties review, including a barbershop quartet.

And a number of Irish songs in the background and, ultimately, in the spotlight, including a rousing version of "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling."

I won't give away the ending, but trust me, you'll say, "Aw, ain't that nice!"

Kind of a fun movie.

Humphrey Bogart plays 'Mr. Grasselli'--a man who is sick and living in a rooming house while supposedly recuperating. In reality, he's Chips Maguire-a wanted thug who is hiding from the law. This sort of role is hardly surprising for Bogart in 1940, as he'd been playing gangsters in a variety of Warner Brothers films during the last few years. What is surprising, though, is that this film is a light comedy--with Bogie playing a less menacing sort of thug. While it's not a great film, considering that he'd been playing so many mobsters , it was nice to see a bit of a change.

Despite Maguire wanting to remain alone in his room all the time, the two nice old ladies who run the place urge him to come out and meet the other tenants. Eventually, he slowly emerges and begins socializing--and makes friends with the harmless residents and vice-versa. One of them, Ann Sheridan, however, knows who he is and you'd expect her to turn him in to the police. However, she doesn't and what she and this thug have in mind is something you'll need to see for yourself. It's all a little ridiculous, but also great fun.

With such residents as Felix Bressart, Una O'Connor (in one of her more restrained roles)and Zasu Pitts, the movie has a lot of colorful characters and give the film a certain charm and likability. This, combined with an unusual script make this film well worth seeing--especially people who love classic Hollywood or the films of Bogart.

"It All Came True" is a delightful 1940 film starring Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, Jeffrey Lynn, and Zasu Pitts. Sheridan and Lynn are the adult children of business partners in a boarding house (Jessie Busley and Una O'Connor). The women are about to lose the house because of back taxes. Lynn is Tommy, a composer, and Sheridan is Sarah Jane, a nightclub entertainer. Both move back home, but Lynn brings his boss, Chips Maguire (Bogart) with him, who is hiding from the police. He's blackmailing Tommy into hiding him because the gun that killed the victim is in Tommy's name.

Chips can't leave his room, of course, and eventually grows bored with the entire arrangement. He recognizes the very attractive Sarah Jane as having been on the circuit, and decides to help her out by making the boarding house into a nightclub. He finances it and bails the women out of their financial troubles at the same time. Sarah Jane isn't interested in Chips - she's re-connected with Tommy - but naturally plays along. Tommy is uneasy; if Chips is caught, he'll tell the cops that Tommy committed the murder.

The plot may sound serious, but the film is filled with music and a lightheartedness that's hard to describe. Ann Sheridan was sort of the working man's Rita Hayworth. She was at Warner's, which put her low, sultry voice, mane of red hair and other assets to good use in a variety of roles. She wasn't as beautiful as Hayworth or as exotic, but she was more versatile as an actress. Here she's at the top of her game, singing and dancing up a storm and looking sensational. She really carries the film. Lynn, whose career lost its momentum after World War II, was a nice-looking, boy next door type of leading man, and does an able job here. Bogart is a riot; the man could do anything. Though his character is ruthless and dangerous, he comes off as extremely likable. The striking Zasu Pitts is wonderful as a boarder who sees men following her everywhere and can't handle her liquor. At all.

There's a charming sentiment about this film - it'll leave you smiling.

...and Ann Sheridan can be quite fetching as the "showgirl" with the heart of gold who refers to herself at one point as being "technically a good girl". Fun, cliche-ridden, but with a lot of good lines. And Bogart is hilarious as he dead-pans cheating the oldsters at cards! Also: Is this the film that introduced the song "Angel in Disguise"? I only knew the song as delivered by Bugs Bunny!

This is a really offbeat idea for a Humphrey Bogart movie, but it ends up working pretty well as light entertainment and as something of a showcase for co-star Ann Sheridan. It combines a lighter version of the kind of gangster character that used to be Bogart's specialty, a pleasant if silly scenario, and ample opportunities for Sheridan and some of the supporting cast to steal a few scenes.

The story is lightweight and goofy, with barely any plausibility at all (if that much). Fortunately, the good acting makes all of the oddball characters likable, and makes the story worth following for the sake of entertainment. Sheridan gets a good character and a chance to sing a few songs, and the minor characters include good roles for Zasu Pitts and Felix Bressart, among others.