7/10
Sweet as they come
5 January 2009
"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.
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