It All Came True - Warner Archive Collection

I've always liked Ann Sheridan. Unfairly saddled with the sexpot nickname "The Oomph Girl," the alluring Warner Brothers star rarely got the credit she deserved for her substantial acting talent. Though often stuck in the shadow of studio queen Bette Davis and her ladies in waiting Joan Crawford, Olivia de Havilland, and Ida Lupino, Sheridan nevertheless brightened many a 1940s feature. Her beauty, mellifluous contralto voice, and street-smart, take-no-prisoners attitude made her an ideal leading lady for such legendary Warner tough guys as Cagney, Bogart, and Raft. She could take their guff and give it back twofold, but also possessed a luminous, tender side and flair for comedy, both of which enhanced her appeal and contributed to her success.

It All Came True was one of Sheridan's first star vehicles, and it seems to have been meticulously designed to show off all of her attributes. There's a lot going on in this difficult-to-classify tale that often feels like a hodgepodge of various types of movies spliced together, but Sheridan somehow makes it work. Director Lewis Seiler's disjointed yet enjoyable film blends comedy, music, romance, and heartwarming drama within the framework of a gangster flick. (Yes, you read that right.) There's plenty of charm throughout, much of it supplied by Sheridan, whose infectious vivacity and sincerity buoy the movie.

Based on a story by Louis Bromfield, whose novel The Rains Came had just been successfully adapted for the screen the previous year, It All Came True begins with racketeer Chips Maguire (Humphrey Bogart) bumping off the traitorous crony who betrayed him prior to a raid on his nightclub. Chips, who purposely used a gun registered in the name of his club pianist, Tommy Taylor (Jeffrey Lynn), to commit the killing, threatens to turn the weapon over to the police and pin the murder on Tommy unless he lets Chips hide out at his mother's brownstone rooming house, which she runs with her longtime friend Maggie Ryan (Una O'Connor).

Tommy reluctantly agrees and introduces Chips as Mr. Grasselli to the motley group of misfit tenants that includes Maggie's daughter Sarah Jane (Sheridan), a struggling chorus girl and Tommy's old flame. Chips claims he's recovering from a nervous breakdown and keeps to himself, but Sarah Jane, who worked for Chips years ago, recognizes him. As time passes, Chips softens as he begins to feel a kinship with his adopted family, and when Maggie and her friend Nora (Jessie Busley) can't pay their taxes and risk losing the building where they've lived for decades, Chips suggests turning the brownstone into a nightclub where Tommy and Sarah Jane, who are rekindling their romance, can perform. Chips agrees to finance the enterprise, but will his generosity come back to bite him?

The narrative may be tough to swallow, but the film's endearing characters and whimsical tone keep us engaged. Though a climactic, elongated Gay Nineties musical sequence reminiscent of the Mickey Rooney-Judy Garland let's-put-on-a-show films and hokey ending take the wind out of its sails, It All Came True remains a pleasant, if scattered, motion picture. The script contains some funny lines and situations, and even if the songs aren't particularly memorable, it's a treat to hear Sheridan sing. She's certainly no threat to Garland or Doris Day, but her lovely, smooth voice suits the movie's anthem, "Angel in Disguise," especially well.

Bogart was still working his way up from supporting roles at the time and was reportedly the third choice to play Chips after John Garfield and George Raft turned the part down, but he welcomed the opportunity and made the most of it, adding humor and dimension to his standard gangster portrayal. He and Sheridan generate a few sparks, but the real love story is between Sheridan and Lynn, and they make a handsome pair. Lynn is somewhat bland, but his thankless role requires him to brood and sulk most of the time.

Busley plays the kindly, nurturing Nora with plenty of motherly warmth and O'Connor is at her feisty best as the mouthy Maggie. As the tenants, the always amusing Zasu Pitts is a hoot as the flighty spinster Miss Flint, the ubiquitous Grant Mitchell enjoys a few fine moments, and Felix Bressart brings his usual earnestness to his eccentric portrayal.

It All Came True is a minor movie, and it's easy to see why it's been largely forgotten since its premiere 86 years ago. Still, it's nice to see Sheridan in her prime getting the attention and respect she deserves, and it's nice to see Bogart in a somewhat change-of-pace part in a film most of his fans have probably never heard of. If you're looking for an off-the-beaten-path classic, It All Came True certainly fills the bill.

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray
It All Came True arrives on Blu-ray packaged in a standard case. Video codec is 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 and audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono. Once the disc is inserted into the player, the static menu with music immediately pops up; no previews or promos precede it.

A brand new HD master struck from a 4K scan of the original nitrate camera negative yields a striking 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer that faithfully honors the top-quality cinematography of Ernest Haller, who had just won an Oscar the previous year for Gone with the Wind. Grain has been nicely diffused, but the picture still maintains a lovely film-like feel. Dense blacks, bright whites, and a wide gray scale produce a detailed image that flaunts a fair amount of depth. Shadow delineation is quite good, sharp close-ups highlight tears, facial hair, and fine details like crow's feet and pores, and no discernible print damage intrudes. It's impossible to imagine It All Came True looking any better than it does here, so if you're a fan of Sheridan and/or Bogart, you'll want to add this disc to your collection.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track outputs clear, well-modulated sound. Though a bit of shrillness crops up occasionally, it never lasts long. The musical numbers benefit from solid fidelity and tonal depth, both of which lend Sheridan's vocals a pleasing silkiness, and sonic accents like gunshots are crisp. Dialogue, especially when spoken by the heavily accented O'Connor, sometimes gets a little muddled, but it's generally easy to comprehend, and no age-related defects like hiss, pops, or crackle mar the track's purity.

Just a couple of extras are included on the disc.

• Vintage Cartoon: Circus Today (SD, 9 minutes) - This Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Tex Avery presents a series of comical, death-defying acts from the "Jingling Bros. Circus" and is capped off by a surprising downbeat ending.
• Vintage Cartoon: The Sour Puss (SD, 7 minutes) - Porky Pig stars in this black-and-white Merrie Melodies cartoon that chronicles the mishaps that occur when Porky goes fishing with his cat in tow.
• Theatrical Trailer (SD, 3 minutes) - The film's original preview hypes Sheridan's image as "The Oomph Girl."

Though it's difficult to categorize It All Came True, somehow this comedic musical romance gangster flick works far better than one might think. The underrated Sheridan and up-and-coming Bogart shine brightly, as does Warner Archive's lovely transfer that's struck from a 4K scan of the original nitrate camera negative. Remastered audio and a couple of vintage cartoons complete this excellent presentation of a little-known classic. Recommended. 

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