"Tomorrow Is Another Day" is an example of why I love TCM.Included as part of the station's "Summer of Darkness" series, highlighting my favorite genre, film noir, "Tomorrow Is Another Day" aired at 10:45 pm. I had no intention of watching it, since I was tired and I'd already sat through two other movies in the series that evening: "The Gangster" and one of my all time faves, "Gun Crazy." But then the host started talking about how "Tomorrow..." is a "dark gem" in the noir canon and how it's relatively unknown, and I started to think about when I would ever have the chance to see it again and decided I had to sit down and watch the damn thing.And man was I glad I did. A gem indeed, "Tomorrow..." stars Steve Cochran and Ruth Roman as a recently released con and a dance hall hostess, respectively, who move away from the city and set up house, only to find that his criminal past will not be left behind so easily. There's a whole sub genre of noir that involves flights from big cities into the open spaces of America and how those open spaces are no longer safe; the decay of urban environments will follow relentlessly, and the open spaces are even more dangerous because there are fewer places to hide. Cochran and Roman have incredible chemistry together, and the movie really makes you root for both of them, even though he comes across as perhaps a tad off his rocker.In case I've oversold it, don't think this film is going to change your life. There's nothing groundbreaking to be found here. But it is a fresh surprise in a genre that's full of fresh surprises.Felix Feist (who?) provides the playful direction.Grade: A

Steve Cochran is an Underrated Actor with Smoldering Good Looks and Usually Played the Heavy. This is a Challenging Role Because the Character Must be Vulnerable, Naive, and a Child in a Man's Body. After being Released from Prison, Sentenced to Serve 18 Years, at 13, for the Shooting Death of His Abusive Father, He is a Lamb Among the Wolves. A Noir Tradition of a Cruel, Cut-Throat World where "Danger Lives" Around Every Corner. Ruth Roman's Character is a Difficult Part as well. She Must Go from from Dime-a-Dance Dame, Always Looking Out for Number One, to a Caring Wife and Completely Unselfish Woman.This May Not be a Pure Film-Noir and is a Film that Compromises. Starting in the 1950's Film Studios were Under Pressure from Anti-Communist Crusades and Film-Noir, with Some Exceptions, saw Capitulation Brought On by a Cultural and Political Paranoia. Careers were Lost and Campaigns Begun by Right-Wing Groups "Forced" Movie Makers to Light the Dark Shadows of American Life Appearing that they Didn't Exist.Overall, this is One of Those Film-Noir from the Fifties and Stickler Fans were Finding Their Noirs Beginning to Soften.This One is Upbeat and More Conventional Movie Making. It's What We Got in the Fifties and Audiences were Given a Rose Colored View of Life. If Only that were True.

A man is released after 18 years for killing his father, and falls right into hot water again when he meets a dodgy dancehall dame. Starts out strong and fizzles out. In the early stages, it's classic noir, with an intriguing femme fatale, appealing stylization, a rough edge and some good on-the-lam scenes. Then Ruth Roman's character takes a rather unbelievable turn and the film becomes a pretty dull melodrama. Once in a while an interesting facet will surface, but it's a big dropoff from the movie's early promise. Other films have pulled off this kind of shift quite nicely: ON DANGEROUS GROUND and ONE WAY STREET come to mind. But here it feels like the air being drained from a tire. Steve Cochran is pretty good throughout, and Roman is excellent up until the change (when she goes from blonde to brunette). While the movie never gets bad, it does get disappointing. The ending is a little too convenient as well.

I can't think of any other film from the pre-Moon Is Blue period that deals with so many tough social issues (without, of course, QUITE breeching the Production Code): prostitution, rape, pimping, and even premarital sex. Steve Cochran is excellent as a brooding ex-con on the run from a crime he didn't commit. Outstanding atmosphere, photography, and screenplay. Even the scenes in the lettuce fields are outstanding!