Genre: Drama Directed By: Wesley Ruggles Written By: Walter Reisch, Marguerite Roberts In Theaters: 27 Aug. 1942 On Disc/Streaming: 30 June 1993 Runtime: 107 minutes Studio: Warner Bros. Budget: $1,060,000 Box office: $4,014,000 | Cast: Clark Gable as Jonathan “Jonny” Davis Lana Turner as Paula Lane Robert Sterling as Kirk “Junior” Davis Patricia Dane as Crystal McRegan Reginald Owen as Willie Manning Lee Patrick as Eve “Evie” Manning Charles Dingle as George L. Stafford Sara Haden as Miss Coultier Van Johnson as Lieutenant Wade Hall (uncredited) Keenan Wynn as Sergeant Tom Purdy, a machine gunner under Hall’s command (uncredited) |
“Somewhere I’ll Find You” is a film starring Clark Gable and Lana Turner, directed by Wesley Ruggles, and released by Metro-Goldwyn Mayer in 1942. The film took almost two years to complete and was the last film Gable starred in before he enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces for World War II.
In October 1941, war correspondents and brothers “Jonny” (Clark Gable) and Kirk Davis (Robert Sterling) return to the still-neutral United States after being kicked out of Germany.
Jonny’s boss, isolationist New York Daily Chronicle publisher George L. Stafford (Charles Dingle), refuses to print his story about Japan and Germany’s plans for the world, but Jonny tricks him into doing so, and gets fired for his trouble.
When Jonny goes to reclaim his old room from friends and landlords “Evie” (Lee Patrick) and Willie Manning (Reginald Owen), he is annoyed (despite having been away for years) to find they have rented it out to Paula Lane (Lana Turner), an aspiring reporter who wants to work as a foreign correspondent.
Ladies man Jonny is very interested in the beautiful blonde, but then finds that his brother already has a relationship with her.
A romantic triangle ensues.
Despite being in love with her himself, Jonny tries to arrange it so that Paula chooses Kirk.
Eventually, they are all reunited in Manila … on Sunday, December 7, the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor, which brings America into the war.
Jonny insists that the other two leave on a ship for Australia, while he remains behind to report for the Chronicle, but they sneak back on the pilot boat after he sees them off.
Kirk enlists, while Paula joins the Red Cross.
When the Japanese invade the Philippines, Jonny encounters his brother by chance; Kirk is part of a detachment under the command of Lieutenant Wade Hall (Van Johnson) that is assigned to repel a Japanese amphibious landing.
Kirk and most of the other defenders die in the fierce fighting.
Jonny believes that Paula was also killed, when the hospital where she was working was wiped out, but it turns out she was out escorting a party of wounded there.
When they find each other, Jonny sets her at a typewriter and starts dictating the rest of his newspaper story.
Lana Turner plays Paula Lane.
When filming just had begun, Clark Gable got the news that his wife, Carole Lombard, had died in a plane crash. He was devastated of course. After several weeks Gable returned to the scene to complete the film. After that he joined the Army Air Force for 3 years.
Lana herself went on tour with the USO (United Service Organizations). The USO is a nonprofit organization that provides live entertainment, such as comedians and musicians, and other programs to members of the United States Armed Forces and their families.
Lana went on tour selling bonds and even kisses. She entertained, visited hospitals, laughed with the boys and listened to their stories.
Even her hair was patriotic. Sydney Guilaroff, the hairstylist for MGM for over 40 years, created a new look for Lana’s newspaper reporter role by cutting her hair into a shorter, more sensible bob. Dubbed “The Victory Hairdo,” the new style was, according to a studio release, ultra-practical and ideal for war work, since it wouldn’t get caught in defense plant machine. Metro got considerable mileage out of this gimmick – when news of the bob reached the UK, they were asked to send instructions for the coiffure to the women of the British Isles as quickly as possible.
Trailer:
You can watch the film here.
Lana Turner did a lot of movies. She really loved being a moviestar.
Here are the most important films in which she starred. Just click the links for more info, photos and videos.
20 April 1937: A Star Is Born
9 Oct. 1937: They Won’t Forget
24 Oct. 1937: The Great Garrick
1 Jan. 1938: The Adventures of Marco Polo
22 July 1938: Love Finds Andy Hardy
12 Aug. 1938: Rich Man, Poor Girl
9 Dec. 1938: Dramatic School
28 April 1939: Calling Dr. Kildare
18 Aug. 1939: These Glamour Girls
29 Sept. 1939: Dancing Co-Ed
19 April 1940: Two Girls on Broadway
19 July 1940: We Who Are Young
25 April 1941: Ziegfeld Girl
12 Aug. 1941: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
2 Oct. 1941: Honky Tonk
18 Febr. 1942: Johnny Eager
27 Aug. 1942: Somewhere I’ll Find You
1 April 1943: Slightly Dangerous
19 Aug. 1943: Du Barry Was A Lady
13 Nov. 1943: The Youngest Profession
23 Aug. 1944: Marriage Is a Private Affair
8 March 1945: Keep Your Powder Dry
1 Oct. 1945: Week-End At The Waldorf
2 May 1946: The Postman Always Rings Twice
5 Nov. 1947 : Green Dolphin Street
1 Nov. 1947: Cass Timberlane
29 April 1948: Homecoming
20 Oct. 1948: The Three Musketeers
1 Sept. 1950: A Life Of Her Own
2 March 1951: Mr. Imperium
5 Sept. 1952: The Merry Widow
25 Dec. 1952: The Bad And The Beautiful
25 Aug. 1953: Latin Lovers
1 May 1954: Flame And The Flesh
7 Sept. 1954: Betrayed
13 May 1955: The Prodigal
4 June 1955: Sea Chase
14 Dec. 1955: The Rains Of Ranchipur
12 Jan. 1956: Diane
13 Dec. 1957: Peyton Place
30 Jan. 1958: The Lady Takes A Flyer
2 May 1958: Another Time, Another Place
30 April 1959: Imitation Of Life
23 June 1960: Portrait In Black
19 July 1961: By Love Possessed
2 Nov. 1961: Bachelor In Paradise
25 Dec. 1962: Who’s Got The Action?
24 Febr. 1965: Love Has Many Faces
27 April 1966: Madame X
30 April 1969: The Big Cube
7 Nov. 1974: Persecution
27 Oct. 1976: Bittersweet Love
31 Oct. 1980: Witches Brew
21 May 1982: Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid
Sources: Wikipedia, IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, Lana’s biography “Lana, the Lady, The Legend, The Truth“, “The Films Of Lana Turner” by Lou Valentino and “Lana Turner, The Memories, The Myths and The Movies” by Cheryl Crane.