Someone over at Warner Brothers thought that Philip Barry's play The Animal
Kingdom might make a good vehicle for their new male buddy team of Dennis
Morgan and Jack Carson. So in roles pioneered by Leslie Howard and William
Gargan on stage and in the RKO original film, Morgan and Carson took over the
parts and did well with them as the playboy and the butler.
The story is updated to reflect wartime conditions. Morgan is an affable sort of
playboy who likes giving parties and one time his little clambake is covered by
photographers Ann Sheridan and Jane Wyman. Both are from a liberal type
magazine that sounds a lot like PM which was in vogue at the time. Morgan
who despite his affluence and his playboy lifestyle is a decent sort. He pulls
the magazine out of red ink and takes over as publisher.
But on the homefront scheming society girl Alexis Smith has set her cap for
Morgan. When he marries her Sheridan is heartbroken but that sure isn't the
end of the story.
Fans of Philip Barry's work will also recognize items in the plot from The Philadelphia Story and Holiday. One More Tomorrow was filmed during the
war years, but civilians didn't get to see it until the end of World War II. I imagine our Armed Forces saw it in the interim.
To get the rights to it the Brothers Warner had to buy them from RKO who I
am sure was grateful for the coin as it always had financial problems until
Howard Hughes bought the studio.
One More Tomorrow holds up well over 70 years later, the performances are
fresh and strong and the quintet of leads is cast impeccably. What was interesting was Jane Wyman who in those years went from playing girl Friday
roles which she had at Warner Brothers became a serious dramatic actress
as she had gotten great reviews for The Lost Weekend and The Yearling.
One More Tomorrow fit well into the collection of films that Dennis Morgan
and Jack Carson were doing at the time. Alexis Smith got a real juicy part and
made the most of it as a woman you really love to hate. This also fits in well
with Ann Sheridan, it's a part she gave a lot of Oomph to.
I think Philip Barry fans will be pleased as One More Tomorrow keeps the spirit
and message of The Animal Kingdom well intact.