Island of Doomed Men (1940) in Color — Starring Peter Lorre & Rochelle Hudson

It Happened Tomorrow (1944) — Buy This Classic in Color

Buy It Happened Tomorrow (1944) in color — René Clair’s brilliantly inventive fantasy comedy about a young reporter who receives tomorrow’s newspaper today, starring Dick Powell, Linda Darnell, Jack Oakie, and Edgar Kennedy. When a man makes love as headlines swell — available now as an instant, DRM-free digital download.

Plot Summary

Lawrence Stevens (Dick Powell) is an ambitious young reporter working for the Evening News in 1890s New York, desperate to break the big stories that will make his career. At a retirement party for Pop Benson (John Philliber), an elderly colleague from the newspaper’s morgue department, Lawrence jokingly wishes he could know tomorrow’s news today. Pop, a mysterious and otherworldly figure who seems to exist somewhere between life and death, takes the wish literally — and the next morning, Lawrence finds a complete copy of tomorrow’s newspaper waiting for him. Armed with knowledge of events that have not yet occurred, Lawrence begins scooping every other reporter in the city, racing to crime scenes before the crimes happen and filing stories about fires, robberies, and scandals hours before they take place. His editor is astounded, his rivals are furious, and his career skyrockets overnight. Lawrence is also courting the lovely Sylvia Smith (Linda Darnell), a charming young woman who works as an assistant to her uncle, Oscar Smith (Jack Oakie), a flamboyant vaudeville mind-reader whose act — ‘Uncle Oscar Sees All, Knows All’ — is pure hokum. Sylvia is delighted by Lawrence’s sudden success, and Oscar, always looking for an angle, is fascinated by the young man’s uncanny ability to predict the future. But Pop Benson’s gift proves to be a double-edged sword. Each day brings a new edition of tomorrow’s paper, and each day the predictions grow more dangerous. Lawrence reads about a bank robbery and arrives at the scene in time to be mistaken for one of the criminals. He learns of a spectacular theft and finds himself accused by the suspicious Inspector Mulrooney (Edgar Kennedy), a dogged police detective who cannot understand how this reporter always seems to be at the scene of every crime before it happens. The comedy turns to genuine dread when Lawrence opens the latest edition and reads his own obituary — a report that he will be shot dead at a specific time and place. Trapped by the very knowledge that made him powerful, Lawrence must find a way to outwit fate itself, enlisting Sylvia, Uncle Oscar, and every ounce of his own ingenuity to change a future that the newspaper insists is already written. René Clair’s masterful direction weaves screwball comedy, romantic charm, and genuine philosophical wit into a story that asks whether knowing the future is a blessing or a curse — and delivers an answer that is both thrilling and deeply satisfying.

Cast & Crew

• Director: René Clair
• Starring: Dick Powell as Lawrence Stevens, Linda Darnell as Sylvia Smith, Jack Oakie as Oscar Smith (Uncle Oscar), Edgar Kennedy as Inspector Mulrooney, John Philliber as Pop Benson
• Runtime: 84 minutes
• Year: 1944
• Rated: Approved
• Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
• Country: USA

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized version of It Happened Tomorrow transforms René Clair’s witty fantasy into a visual delight that captures the gaslit charm of 1890s New York with stunning period accuracy. The meticulous frame-by-frame colorization process reveals the warm amber glow of the newspaper offices, the rich dark wood of the editor’s desk piled high with newsprint, and the bustling energy of turn-of-the-century streets alive with horse-drawn carriages, gas lamps casting pools of golden light, and crowds in the rich earth tones and deep fabrics of the Gilded Age. Dick Powell, one of Hollywood’s most versatile leading men, is strikingly handsome in color — his sharp suits in charcoal and navy, his crisp white shirts, and his eager, expressive face capturing all the charm and growing panic of a man who has been given too much knowledge. Linda Darnell, one of the most beautiful women ever to appear on screen, is absolutely luminous in the warm palette of the colorized version — her dark hair and porcelain complexion set against costumes of soft rose, ivory lace, and powder blue that make every scene she appears in feel like a painting come to life. Jack Oakie’s Uncle Oscar is a riot of theatrical color, his vaudeville stage draped in crimson velvet and gold trim, his flamboyant costumes reflecting the character’s magnificent showmanship. The colorization reveals the careful period detail of Clair’s production design — the green felt of the newsroom tables, the brass fixtures of the police station, the warm brick of the city exteriors. This restored colorized version of the classic movie unlocks the full visual storytelling hidden within the original black and white photography.

Historical Significance

It Happened Tomorrow occupies a unique place in cinema history as the American masterpiece of René Clair, the legendary French director who ranks among the most influential filmmakers of the twentieth century. Clair, who had virtually invented the European sound comedy with classics like Under the Roofs of Paris (1930), Le Million (1931), and À Nous la Liberté (1931), fled France during the German occupation and spent the war years in Hollywood, where he made a small number of English-language films that brought his distinctive blend of wit, elegance, and philosophical playfulness to American audiences. It Happened Tomorrow, produced in 1944, is widely considered the finest of his Hollywood films — a picture that seamlessly blends American screwball comedy energy with Clair’s characteristically European sophistication and his lifelong fascination with time, fate, and the nature of free will. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, for Best Sound Recording and Best Musical Score. Dick Powell, who had reinvented himself from a boyish musical star into a leading man of dramatic range, delivers one of the most engaging performances of his career. Linda Darnell, at just twenty-one, was already established as one of Fox’s biggest stars. The film’s central conceit — receiving tomorrow’s newspaper — has influenced countless subsequent works of fantasy and science fiction.

Technical Details

• Original Format: Black and White (1944)
• Colorized: Professional frame-by-frame HD colorization and restoration
• Resolution: HD 720p
• File Format: MP4 / MKV
• Running Time: 84 minutes
• Language: English
• Delivery: Instant download link on-screen and sent to your email upon purchase
• Price: €15.00
• License: Personal, non-commercial use

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is It Happened Tomorrow about?
It Happened Tomorrow is a 1944 fantasy comedy directed by René Clair about Lawrence Stevens (Dick Powell), a young 1890s newspaper reporter who mysteriously begins receiving copies of tomorrow’s newspaper. His uncanny ability to predict future events makes him a star reporter but also puts him in increasingly dangerous situations — culminating in reading his own obituary. The film blends screwball comedy, romance, and genuine suspense in a story about whether the future can be changed.

Who directed It Happened Tomorrow?
The film was directed by René Clair, one of the most celebrated directors in cinema history and a pioneer of sound cinema. Clair’s French masterpieces — including Le Million, À Nous la Liberté, and Under the Roofs of Paris — had made him internationally famous, and It Happened Tomorrow is considered the finest film of his wartime Hollywood period. His characteristic wit, elegance, and philosophical depth are beautifully evident throughout the picture.

How do Dick Powell and Linda Darnell perform in this film?
Dick Powell delivers a thoroughly charming and increasingly panicked performance as a young reporter whose gift becomes a curse, showcasing the dramatic range that would define his later career. Linda Darnell, at just twenty-one and already a major star, brings warmth, beauty, and spirited intelligence to the role of Sylvia. Their romantic chemistry is delightful, and Jack Oakie nearly steals the film as the magnificently fraudulent Uncle Oscar.

Is this based on a true story or a book?
The screenplay, written by Dudley Nichols and René Clair, was inspired by a short story and a play that explored the idea of a man who can foresee the future through a newspaper. Clair transformed the concept into a uniquely cinematic experience, using his mastery of comic timing and visual storytelling to create something entirely original. The central premise has since become one of the most frequently borrowed ideas in fantasy cinema and television.

Is this the original film with added color?
Yes, this is the complete original 1944 film that has been restored and enhanced with professional colorization technology. Every scene and all original dialogue are preserved exactly as intended.

What devices can I watch this on?
You can watch this colorized version on any device that plays MP4 or MKV files, including computers, tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, and media players like Roku or Apple TV.

Is the download DRM-free?
Absolutely. Your purchase is completely DRM-free, meaning you own the file outright with no restrictions on how many times you watch it or on which devices you play it.

How and when will I receive my download?
You will receive your download link instantly on-screen after purchase, and a backup link will also be sent to your email address. No waiting period — you can start watching immediately.

How much does it cost to buy this colorized classic?
The price for this restored and professionally colorized edition is €15.00 — a one-time payment for a permanent, DRM-free download you can watch anytime.

Also available in colour for international viewers. This restored and professionally colorized edition of It Happened Tomorrow brings René Clair’s inventive classic movie to vivid new life for a generation of viewers who love golden age cinema. Watch this brilliant classic film and experience the colorization that reveals every detail of its enchanting 1890s world.

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