Beyond Tomorrow (1940)

20080511 Also known as Beyond Christmas, Beyond Tomorrow is a sweet sleeper of a Christmas classic. It's A Wonderful Life meets Ghost but with less stringent scripting and production values -- though its hokiness doesn't get in the way of its heart. Three wizened business partners find a creative way to replace two no-show guests for their festive Christmas dinner then virtually adopt the young man and woman (Richard Carlson and Jean Parker), who have fallen in love at first sight. Success is devious for the dashing young Texan crooner named James Houston but the couple's trio of guardian angels continues to intervene and intercede for them even after tragedy strikes. (Think of Charles Winninger as an Irish luminous Obi-Wan Kenobi or Patrick Swayze interceding before a heavenly cloud, who at one point responds, "O'Brien, you are the most stubborn soul we have ever loved.") Truly luminous, however, is the trio's aged housekeeper (Maria Ouspenskaya), an exiled Russian countess; her every word and expression is golden. Small gems, if you appreciate these sorts of things, include a festive singing of Jingle Bells in a handful of languages and the movie's leisurely approach to continuity and pre-Blob special effects. Bonus materials include the original (noncolorized) movie plus public service messages for war bonds by Bette Davis and for Easter seals by Bob Hope. 3 stars.