ambitious reporter in old new york begin to receive tomorrow paper today and and tempts fate represent a pleasant premise for a 40 fantasy and with elegant rene clair direction and and your appetite set for evocative mid century whimsy . but the modest independent production look pinch and and the scriptwriter haven not think their intriguing situation through . why do dick powell ( not very interest here ) read only the headline and instead of peruse the future predict story to really understand what go to happen . be the giver of the paper alive and dead and or both . why employ a flashback construction and which rob the plot of whatever suspense ( will the reporter cheat death or not . ) it may have . why give linda darnell and the lovely leading lady and nothing to do . a thoroughly conventional and though oscar nominate and score doesn not help and and jack oakie and a darnell vaudeville partner and provide what little energy there be .