Warren William, a silver fox of 1930s cinema, was adept at playing cads, gentlemen, romantics, suave seducers, ruthless businessmen, and fun-loving society gents. The 1933 comedy Goodbye Again showcases his spirited side and comic charm. William plays bestselling romance novelist Kenneth Bixby, who is in the midst of a cross-country promotional tour for his latest book when an old flame (Genevieve Tobin) appears and pledges to leave her husband to renew their affair. Kenneth doesn’t even remember her but plays along, ostensibly to shake the woman out of her delusion (she’s convinced he based his latest heroine on her), much to the frustration of his devoted secretary and Girl Friday Anne (Joan Blondell), who tries to protect Kenneth from his own impulsive decisions and from the woman’s worried family. Directed with snappy energy by Michael Curtiz, it’s a slight but entertaining pre-Code farce filled with some suggestive material as the characters careen through train cars and hotel rooms in hot pursuit of compromising situations. William is quite charming and very entertaining as a reckless romantic who isn’t as smart as he thinks he is but is constantly hatching new plans with a big grin. And he has great chemistry with Blondell, who is torn between jealousy and her protective instincts. Goodbye Again is no lost classic but it is good fun for fans of screwball comedy and pre-Code attitude. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)
Goodbye Again
Warner, 66 min., not rated, DVD: $21.99 Volume 33, Issue 3
Goodbye Again
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