What it’s about
When they learn that the bank is foreclosing on their home, sixty-something couple Barkley and Lucy Cooper (Moore and Bondi), find themselves in a tight spot. None of their five grown children can make room for both in their own homes, so Lucy and Barkley are forced to separate. The disappointment of living apart is further exacerbated by the selfish attitudes of their offspring. But Barkley and Lucy have arranged one last outing on the town…
Why we love it
If it weren’t so artfully constructed and movingly acted, you might say that Leo McCarey’s unsung Hollywood classic “Make Way for Tomorrow” was just too downbeat for Depression-era audiences. Even the studio tried to pressure McCarey to change his ending. But the power of this beautiful, rueful drama has a universal appeal that film lovers around the world — including Japanese master Yasujiro Ozu, who modeled his Tokyo Story after the film — have since found irresistible. Think of all your favorite tearjerkers, then “Make Way” for this one.