Never Say Goodbye

The 1956 American drama directed by Jerry Hopper is based on Luigi Pirandello's play "Come prima, meglio di prima" and serves as a remake of the 1945 film "This Love of Ours". The story follows Dr. Michael Parker (Rock Hudson), a successful surgeon from California, who raises his daughter Suzy (Shelley Fabares) alone after his wife Lisa (Cornell Borchers) disappeared in the Soviet sector of Vienna during World War II and was presumed dead. While attending a conference in New York, Michael unexpectedly encounters Lisa, now performing under the name Dorian Kent in a nightclub. Shocked by the meeting, Lisa runs into the street and is struck by a car. As she recovers from her injuries, Michael recalls their past: meeting in Vienna, their marriage, and how his jealousy towards Victor (George Sanders), Lisa's former stage partner, led to their separation. After her recovery, Lisa agrees to travel to California with Michael to see their daughter. However, Suzy, believing Lisa to be her father's new wife, rejects her. It is only when Victor sketches a portrait based on Suzy's memories of her mother that the girl realizes Lisa is her real mother, leading to a heartfelt family reunion. The film delves into themes of love, loss, forgiveness, and the restoration of family bonds against the backdrop of post-war Europe and America.