I ignored this film for years simply because of its title: Embraceable You suggests a lightweight musical comedy, perhaps starring June Havoc and Gene Nelson. Now that I've finally seen it, the truth is revealed: it's actually a very fine romantic drama with noir overtones. Dane Clark, so frequently miscast, is excellent as Eddie Novoc, a two-bit hoodlum who knocks over beautiful Marie Willens (Geraldine Brooks) whilst making a getaway. Stricken by remorse--especially when he learns Marie's days are numbered--Eddie attempts to atone for his sins, and the two end up falling in love. Clark and Brooks really hit it off as a screen couple and are ably supported by S.Z. Sakall as sweet shop operator Louie Dumbrowksy--er, sorry, Sammy--and Wallace Ford as a stern but compassionate copper. In addition, Embraceable You benefits from excellent cinematography by Carl Guthrie and an intelligent script courtesy future Oscar winner Edna Anhalt that pushes all the right buttons but manages to avoid overdoing things--especially during the film's crucial final scenes. This is a forgotten little gem well worth rediscovering.
8 Reviews
Oh that last scene
jjnxn-110 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
What starts out being a standard Warner Brothers drama ends up being something quite beautiful.
Examining two people who live on the fringes of society and at first are out for the main chance but through circumstances find something unexpected the film shows how it changes them.
Dane Clark is excellent in one of his better parts, a man who has fallen in with a bad crowd but is himself still at heart a decent man. Geraldine Brooks character is a pretty hard article when we meet her but she undergoes the biggest transformation during the picture's running time. She and Dane have a terrific chemistry and both Wallace Ford and S.Z. Sakall make strong impressions in support.
Now about the last scene, it's exquisite. Somehow while the picture is entertaining all the way through, if unremarkable, suddenly when it reaches its conclusion it moves into another level. Have the tissues handy.
Examining two people who live on the fringes of society and at first are out for the main chance but through circumstances find something unexpected the film shows how it changes them.
Dane Clark is excellent in one of his better parts, a man who has fallen in with a bad crowd but is himself still at heart a decent man. Geraldine Brooks character is a pretty hard article when we meet her but she undergoes the biggest transformation during the picture's running time. She and Dane have a terrific chemistry and both Wallace Ford and S.Z. Sakall make strong impressions in support.
Now about the last scene, it's exquisite. Somehow while the picture is entertaining all the way through, if unremarkable, suddenly when it reaches its conclusion it moves into another level. Have the tissues handy.
Redemption by Blackmail
boblipton28 September 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This is an unusually plotted and ultimately affecting little movie as small-time heel Dane Clark is blackmailed into taking care of dying Geraldine Brooks -- she doesn't know she is dying. Although hampered somewhat by production code issues -- it would have worked better in the precode days -- a typically excellent script by Edna Anhalt and some fine direction by Felix Jacoves -- his movie career fubbled out after half a dozen turns as a dialogue director and three behind the megaphone -- combine with Dane Clark being well-cast after some misguided attempts to build him up by the studio.
Notice the close ups of Clark and Brooks and some nice performances in the smaller roles. It's a pity that Jacoves' career disappeared. I wonder what happened.
Notice the close ups of Clark and Brooks and some nice performances in the smaller roles. It's a pity that Jacoves' career disappeared. I wonder what happened.
Romance in the strangest circumstances
bkoganbing9 January 2014
An unlikely romance develops between the wheel man of a getaway car and a pedestrian whom he hits. The wheel man is small time crook Dane Clark and the pedestrian is Geraldine Brooks. And the cupid that brings them together is a cop played by Wallace Ford.
Here's where it gets highly ludicrous Ford finds out from Dr. Douglas Kennedy that Brooks is dying of an aneurysm that has developed. He forces Ford to take care of the cynical Brooks who doesn't know that she's dying and is unhappy that there are no deep pockets she can sue because of her accident. She has no family and Clark is blackjacked into caring for her.
But as it turns out he really does start to care for her as romance develops in the strangest circumstances. Ford is hoping that by leaving Clark out there he'll find the other man in the car who is guilty of killing a gambler over a debt.
It's a strange and ludicrous plot, but Clark and Brooks actually make it work. With the strains of the Gershwin classic played at intervals during the film, I recommend Embraceable You for fans of romance films strictly.
Here's where it gets highly ludicrous Ford finds out from Dr. Douglas Kennedy that Brooks is dying of an aneurysm that has developed. He forces Ford to take care of the cynical Brooks who doesn't know that she's dying and is unhappy that there are no deep pockets she can sue because of her accident. She has no family and Clark is blackjacked into caring for her.
But as it turns out he really does start to care for her as romance develops in the strangest circumstances. Ford is hoping that by leaving Clark out there he'll find the other man in the car who is guilty of killing a gambler over a debt.
It's a strange and ludicrous plot, but Clark and Brooks actually make it work. With the strains of the Gershwin classic played at intervals during the film, I recommend Embraceable You for fans of romance films strictly.
Good...but toss believability out the window!
planktonrules5 August 2020
Eddie (Dane Clark) is a crook...but, oddly, a surprisingly decent one. When the story begins, he's waiting in the car for one of his hood friends. Suddenly, the friend comes running...he just killed someone! Eddie is so scared the car he's driving loses control and he sideswipes a lady. While his friend doesn't care, Eddie cannot live with himself and soon goes to the hospital to check on her. There he sees that Marie (Geraldine Brooks) looks pretty good despite the accident, though the doctor later confides in him that there is a good chance she won't survive for long. It seems she has some sort of Hollywood film injury and might die at a moment's notice. Eddie decides to hock everything he has to make Marie's final days good ones.
The acting is terrific in this film. Dane Clark, though hardly a household name, is simply terrific as Eddie. Also, on hand to give the film some color is the wonderful character actor, Cuddles Sakall. The writing is also generally good, though contrived. The whole mystery illness (they called it an aneurysm but it clearly wasn't) was a silly gimmick in an otherwise excellent film starring some second-tier actors at Warner Brothers. Well worth seeing...just try not to think about the plot too much.
The acting is terrific in this film. Dane Clark, though hardly a household name, is simply terrific as Eddie. Also, on hand to give the film some color is the wonderful character actor, Cuddles Sakall. The writing is also generally good, though contrived. The whole mystery illness (they called it an aneurysm but it clearly wasn't) was a silly gimmick in an otherwise excellent film starring some second-tier actors at Warner Brothers. Well worth seeing...just try not to think about the plot too much.
Embraceable Forever- Embraceable You ****
edwagreen16 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
We get to see veteran tough, dissolute Dane Clark in a completely different way in this wonderful 1948 story.
After a gambler is killed, while getting away, Clark accidentally hits pedestrian Geraldine Brooks and she is hospitalized. Feeling remorse for what he has done, he goes to the hospital and strikes up a warm friendship with her. Down on her luck, the accident causes the Brooks character to develop a fast-moving fatal clot.
Wallace Ford plays a sympathetic police officer who realizes what the Clark character is up to. Desperate to keep her going, yet not allow her to find out that she is terminally ill, Clark borrows money from gangsters and of course they're eventually in pursuit of him causing him to flee with his love.
S.Z. Sakal steals the scenes he is in by actually reverting away from his usual comical tones and fracturing of the English language. In a poignant near end film scene, he breaks a glass to show what his people do at the time of a wedding. He was most poignant there and spoke so eloquently.
The picture ends on an upbeat note: Is it possible that doctors may be wrong with their diagnosis and prognosis.
Memorable film.
After a gambler is killed, while getting away, Clark accidentally hits pedestrian Geraldine Brooks and she is hospitalized. Feeling remorse for what he has done, he goes to the hospital and strikes up a warm friendship with her. Down on her luck, the accident causes the Brooks character to develop a fast-moving fatal clot.
Wallace Ford plays a sympathetic police officer who realizes what the Clark character is up to. Desperate to keep her going, yet not allow her to find out that she is terminally ill, Clark borrows money from gangsters and of course they're eventually in pursuit of him causing him to flee with his love.
S.Z. Sakal steals the scenes he is in by actually reverting away from his usual comical tones and fracturing of the English language. In a poignant near end film scene, he breaks a glass to show what his people do at the time of a wedding. He was most poignant there and spoke so eloquently.
The picture ends on an upbeat note: Is it possible that doctors may be wrong with their diagnosis and prognosis.
Memorable film.
Hi! This is Classic-Kate: an aficionado of classic movies.
classic-Kate22 February 2000
The first time I saw Embraceable You, was three years ago, when I was sixteen years old. Consequently, it was also the last time I saw it. For the past three years, I have been searching for it everywhere, with no luck. It's been a mission of mine to find it again because I loved the premise. I thought this movie was a heartbreakingly accurate portrayal of the power of love. Through the trials that pursue the leading characters, there was this powerful emotion that couldn't separate them; that couldn't weaken their desire. I found this movie to not only be a tear-jerker, but one that emanates the powerful message, that love is ever-lasting, and undying.
A Well Made Romantic Film with a Twist
barryblack11 April 2021
I saw this film with my mother when I was 7 and haven't seen it since, but I just can't forget it---it is that powerful. Haven't been able to find it anywhere, which means there's a copyright problem! Maybe someday it will be released. Or perhaps remade, but updated for today's environment.
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