"Without Reservations" is based on the novel "Thanks, God! I'll Take It From Here" by Jane Allen and Mae Livingston. Colbert plays author Christopher "Kit" Madden who has written a best selling novel entitled "Here is Tomorrow." She ends up being a cross between Ayn Rand, in that her novel speaks to an idealized type of man, and Margaret Mitchell, in that she cannot find anybody in Hollywood who could possibly play Mark Winston, her hero, and has started a nation wide search for an unknown. However, when she hops on a train to travel from New York to Hollywood she gets bumped from her first-class accommodations and has to ride coach. She meets two traveling Army aviators, Rusty Thomas (Wayne) and his buddy Dink Watson (DeFore). Rusty is Mark Winston incarnate and Kit thinks he would be perfect for the role. But Rusty has no use for Hollywood (or "Here is Tomorrow") so Kit has to pretend she is somebody else and comes up with the last name of Klotch (this raises some eyebrows all around).

This romantic comedy follows the trio as Kit tries to get Rusty to Hollywood. Of course she falls for him as they travel together and she has to keep scrambling to keep her identity a secret. One of my favorite scenes is where she goes into a liquor store and scores several bottles by convincing the owner she is Kit Madden by reciting the part of her book her is reading. Meanwhile he is convincing her that she really needs to rethink her idea of what a real man should be. When he finds out the truth, Rusty is not happy and Kit has to scramble to bring about the requisite happy ending.

Overall this is a film whose chief virtue is its charm. You expect Colbert to be able to do romantic comedy, but Wayne's deftness has to surprise you a bit. Anne Triola steals several scenes as a "beetle" whose path keeps crossing that of the boys. Jack Benny has a nice cameo appearance as himself, seeking an autograph from Christopher Madden, and Miss Louella Parsons, Cary Grant, and Dolores Moran show up as themselves as well. LeRoy also does something interesting with the final shot, which is of Kit's bed while we hear the couple reconcile off-camera.

I still catch this movie every time I stumble across it and while it is not a great romantic comedy it is still a nice little film that you should check out sometime when you stumble across it.


A hidden classic!   January 4, 2002
Michael L. Ellis (Chandler, Texas United States)
16 out of 17 found this review helpful

This movie is a hidden classic and has to be one of John Wayne's more delightful roles. It also stars Claudette Colbert and Dan DeFore. You gotta see this one!


A wonderful and entertaining film!   September 14, 2001
Rosella Ann Myles (Wheeling, West Virginia United States)
18 out of 21 found this review helpful

I would highly recommend this film to anyone. It's funny romantic, and a very entertaining story starring John Wayne and
Claudette Colbert. They both make a great pair in the film. It's a real classic.