Usually being "In Like Flynn" didn't involve humour. He swashbuckled himself from Olivia de Havilland, Bette Davis,Ann Sheridan and Brenda Marshall in a series of westerns and historical adventures, adding slyness to his sexuality and heroism, but seldomly holding down a comedy. "Never Say Goodbye" is standard by 1946 comic plot means, but thanks to Flynn, as an artist divorced from the lovely Eleanor Parker, desperately trying to win her back, it ends up one of the few formula comedies that is actually funny.
Parker's meddling mother (Lucille Watson, in a typical role) had convinced her to divorce the supposedly philandering Errol Flynn the year before, but he never wanted a divorce or had a chance to prove his innocence. A year later, they are sharing custody of their 7 year old daughter (Patti Brady) who desperately wants them to get back together. She is convinced of this when they meet for the first time since the divorce when he returns her to Parker. Meddling Watson is determined to prevent a reconciliation that leads into a repeat of the famous Marx Brothers mirror scene between Flynn and Donald Woods) while dressed as Santa. Then, Parker meets young Bradys's military pen-pal (Forrest Tucker), a burly marine (who does a magnificent conga) and Flynn does a Bogart impersonation to try and scare Tucker off. Flynn's version of Bogart, although stereotypical, is as hysterical as the Bogart impersonator who would chase Bugs Bunny around in a few Warner Brothers cartoons. He seals his title as an underrated comic who was doomed to spears and saddles, tumbleweeds and tights.
In supporting roles, Hattie McDaniel offers her usual amount of laughs as the maid, but S.Z. Sakall goes a bit overboard as Flynn and Parker's restaurant owner pal, Luigi, forgetting the adage "Less is More". He comes off when not toned down (usually the fault of the script) as an overage Shirley Temple, desperately trying to steal every scene he is in. People who remember Tucker from "F-Troop" and "Auntie Mame" will be surprised to see how buff and handsome he was. Parker's character isn't given much good material, but shows some brief spunk in a cat fight with an obnoxious client of Flynn's. Young Brady is engaging as the child with an obvious Brooklyn accent, seemingly added for effect. But, thanks to Flynn's engagingly humorous performance, "Never Say Goodbye" ends up an unpredictably funny comedy with an over-used plot.
Parker's meddling mother (Lucille Watson, in a typical role) had convinced her to divorce the supposedly philandering Errol Flynn the year before, but he never wanted a divorce or had a chance to prove his innocence. A year later, they are sharing custody of their 7 year old daughter (Patti Brady) who desperately wants them to get back together. She is convinced of this when they meet for the first time since the divorce when he returns her to Parker. Meddling Watson is determined to prevent a reconciliation that leads into a repeat of the famous Marx Brothers mirror scene between Flynn and Donald Woods) while dressed as Santa. Then, Parker meets young Bradys's military pen-pal (Forrest Tucker), a burly marine (who does a magnificent conga) and Flynn does a Bogart impersonation to try and scare Tucker off. Flynn's version of Bogart, although stereotypical, is as hysterical as the Bogart impersonator who would chase Bugs Bunny around in a few Warner Brothers cartoons. He seals his title as an underrated comic who was doomed to spears and saddles, tumbleweeds and tights.
In supporting roles, Hattie McDaniel offers her usual amount of laughs as the maid, but S.Z. Sakall goes a bit overboard as Flynn and Parker's restaurant owner pal, Luigi, forgetting the adage "Less is More". He comes off when not toned down (usually the fault of the script) as an overage Shirley Temple, desperately trying to steal every scene he is in. People who remember Tucker from "F-Troop" and "Auntie Mame" will be surprised to see how buff and handsome he was. Parker's character isn't given much good material, but shows some brief spunk in a cat fight with an obnoxious client of Flynn's. Young Brady is engaging as the child with an obvious Brooklyn accent, seemingly added for effect. But, thanks to Flynn's engagingly humorous performance, "Never Say Goodbye" ends up an unpredictably funny comedy with an over-used plot.