Make Way for Tomorrow

When Leo McCarey won the Oscar for best director for The Awful Truth in 1938, he reportedly accepted it with the comment, “Thank you very much, but you gave it to me for the wrong picture.” The “right picture” that he was referring to is this moving story of an aged couple (Victor Moore and Beulah Bondi) in Depression-era America who first lose their home and then their dignity and independence after their children separate them between their households. A rare Hollywood look at issues of aging, this 1937 masterpiece captures elder shame and frustration over being dependent on others, and while Make Way for Tomorrow serves up compassion and humor, the film primarily expresses the loneliness of two people forced to live apart after 50 years of marriage. A scene in which the couple reflect back on their lives on what may be their last night together is as tender, beautiful, and emotionally devastating as any from the golden age of moviemaking. A box office failure, Make Way for Tomorrow has been largely forgotten, although it feels very timely in our economically-troubled society, which makes this Criterion release most welcome. Shot in black and white, the transfer looks a little grainy but is otherwise quite good, with DVD extras including new interviews with filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich (who quotes Orson Welles on the film: “Oh my god, that's the saddest movie every made!”) and critic Gary Giddins, as well as a booklet with essays. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)[Blu-ray Review—July 14, 2015—Criterion, 92 min., not rated, Blu-ray: $39.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1937's Make Way for Tomorrow sports a fine transfer and an uncompressed monaural soundtrack. Extras include a 2009 interview with critic Gary Giddins (21 min.), a “Tomorrow, Yesterday, and Today” retrospective featurette with filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich (20 min.), and a booklet featuring essays by critic Tag Gallagher and filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier, as well as an excerpt from film scholar Robin Wood's 1998 piece “Leo McCarey and ‘Family Values'.” Bottom line: a powerful classic Hollywood gem makes a welcome debut on Blu-ray.]