mraculeated
The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.
Franz
Inspiring movie about the Afterlife! The thing that I liked the best is that it portrays the difference between shallowness and real love. Good, clean movie with important lessons. A deep, meaningful movie that was a pleasure to watch! Shows clearly that love and unselfishness are the most important things in this life and they are rewarded in the life to come. Would highly recommend this movie to all!
clanciai
This is much more than just sentimentality. Maria Ouspenskaya has the key role as the one who sees through the dimensions and feels what's going on outside reality. It's a great story about three old men working together since many years, who get the idea of throwing out their wallets in the street with some money in them for Christmas, just for kicks. Two young people, a boy and a girl, happen to be honest enough to want to restore the wallets to their givers. They are invited for a Christmas dinner, and there it all starts.There are many various turns of the tale, the three gentlemen even have some interesting experiences after death, and the young couple don't go too easy along either. It's a perfect Christmas story warming your heart and morals with a lot of feeling good about it afterwards, but the real meaning is rather serious and almost sinister. Maria Ouspenskaya would not have the wisdom and insight which is her endowment without some gruesome experience in the past of losing everything, and the motto is important: "I believe that the soul of man is immortal and will be treated with justice in another life, respecting its conduct in this." - Benjamin Franklin.It's pure karma and worth remembering.
SimonJack
Modern audiences are used to horror films in which the dark side of the afterlife comes back to haunt houses and torment people. A few films deal with love and redemption, and some have been comedies. But, in the first three-fourths of the 20th century, films about the afterlife most often were stories with a deeper look at what happens after we die. These usually touched on Judeo-Christian beliefs in heaven and hell. Such is "Beyond Christmas" (aka, "Beyond Tomorrow"), a 1940 RKO movie that purposely did not have a cast with top stars. Indeed, the cast includes half a dozen actors who share the lead. Among them are some very new faces and some very old ones. The latter – including the three male leads by top supporting actors of Hollywood, are one very good reason to watch this movie. Charles Winninger as Michael O'Brien, C. Aubrey Smith as Allan Chadwik, and Harry Carey as George Melton give excellent performances. These three gents played some of the finest supporting roles in major films of the Hollywood golden years. Then, add Russian-born supporting actors Maria Ouspenskaya and Alex Melesh, and one has a film with real talent appeal. I agree with other reviewers about the poor quality of this film. However, I watched the colorized version and enjoyed it as well. I also watched the deleted scenes at the end, and agree with those who think the film was too choppy and loosely connected. Inclusion of a couple of those scenes would have helped greatly. I can't understand why they were cut in the first place. A quotation from Benjamin Franklin at the start of the film sets the stage for the audience to understand that the film would involve the afterlife, faith and belief in God. That quotation reads, "I believe … that the soul of man is immortal and will be treated with justice in another life, respecting its conduct in this." Indeed, that is an aspect of eternity that plays heavily in the film, especially with the character of George, who apparently killed a person in the past. A couple of very good lines stand out. At one point, George says, "To be born innocent is natural, but to die pure of heart – that's a gift." Michael says to James, "Sometimes we have to go through the darkness alone, before we can see the light." At times, Christian beliefs seem muddled. Michael says to George, "George, no matter what you did, if you're sorry for it, no power of darkness can touch you. If you'll only say you're sorry, George." George replies, "While I didn't mean to do it, I have no remorse. I never did have. And, I'd be a hypocrite to say I'm sorry now." In this scene, he goes off into the darkness. In the afterlife, Michael is called last to heaven. But he wants to remain and try to help reunite the young couple, James and Jean, played by Richard Carlson and Jean Parker. Christian belief from the earliest times is that the dead in purgatory and heaven can and do pray for those still on earth. Just as living people ask one another to pray for them in illness, or personal or family problems, Catholics and others pray to ask deceased parents, friends and other loved ones to pray for them. The Catholic belief on this, with Biblical sources, is referred to as the communion of saints. Toward the end of the film, Michael quotes scripture when he says, "There's more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repented …" (Luke 15: 7, 10). My DVD also has some bonus materials that I found interesting and enjoyed watching. One is a video of Bob Hope promoting the use of Christmas Seals. I remember very well that we used to buy these at Christmas time to help fight tuberculosis. Another is a video of Bette Davis urging people to buy war bonds as Christmas gifts for older children. In addition, last, there is a video segment with Christmas drawings and a band and chorus singing some religious Christmas carols.
Syl
I really wanted to see Maria Oupenskaya, a Russian American actress, who trained Ruth White among others. Tragically she died in a fire. This film is the first I was able to see. Back in the studio system days, films like this were done quickly and more efficiently. If anything, the quality of writing isn't great. Still the cast do a terrific job with the script. The Christmas dinner and party was delightful to watch. The tragic loss of the three elderly wealthy men who return as spirits who guide the young honest couple back to each other. The film might have quality issues with the DVD. Still the film is worth seeing at least once and should be aired around the Christmas holidays.
