A Song for Tomorrow ** (1948, Evelyn McCabe, Shaun Noble, Ralph Michael) – Classic Movie Review 11,186

Terence Fisher.

Terence Fisher makes his directorial debut with the overwrought and over-acted but under-written 1948 second-feature black and white romantic drama film A Song for Tomorrow starring Evelyn McCabe, Shaun Noble and Ralph Michael.

The story concerns Derek Wardell (Shaun Noble), a World War Two fighter pilot with amnesia who remembers only the voice of the beautiful voice of the opera singer Helen Maxwell (Evelyn McCabe), with whom he falls in love. Dr Roger Stanton (Ralph Michael) tries to cure Derek Wardell of his amnesia both by surgery and by hearing Helen singing.

It runs only 62 minutes, but there are several pauses for songs sung by Evelyn McCabe: Aria, The Londonderry Air, Philomel, Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms, Abide With Me and extracts from Samson and Delilah.

It was made at Highbury Studios, London.

The screenplay and story are by William Fairchild.

The cast are Evelyn McCabe as Helen Maxwell, Shaun Noble as Derek Wardell, Ralph Michael as Dr Roger Stanton, James Hayter as Helen’s singing coach Nicholas Klaussman, Christopher Lee as Auguste, Conrad Phillips as Lieutenant Fenton, Ethel Coleridge as Woman in Cinema, Carleen Lord as Helen’s Dresser, Yvonne Forster as Nurse, Martin Boddey as Major, Sam Kydd as the Sergeant and Lockwood West as Mr Stokes.

It is the only film of McCabe, though Noble managed half a dozen.

Here is the full film:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg3eXc3tdhE

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,186

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