Dust Be My Destiny (1939)

Dust Be My Destiny (1939) is an innocent-man-jailed moral drifter narrative prison farm social state of the US couple on the run drama and romance proto noir which expresses noir moments and captures noir sentiment, as it bums across the states in various wagons and train carriages, always expressive of the idea that love will out.

Dust Be My Destiny (1939) is beautifully staged expression of what America sought most for itself, the idea of what it was set to become, its deepest anxieties about morality expressed in individual and romantic action from John Garfield, largely.

Joe and Mabel move through a fantasy country of angels and coincidences, pursued by a couple of lacklustre cops who get within a few feet of capture and then dissolve, along with much of the moment to moment tension of the film, which bounces from scene to scene rather than descends into blackest human misery, like its near relative, You Only Live Once (1937), the Fritz Lang film that tales the earnest and innocent couple on the run trope and smashes it to shreds and tramples it all the way across the lobby.

There is a huge farewell and parting with crescendo and tears, about a half of the way in, and this almost bouncy repetitive style which tells of the drifter lives of the American post-depression bums, in a land that was minutes away from finding its feet as the leader of the known universe.

John Garfield is indeed remarkable, and his defiance always defies something rugged and resentful and yet morally clear about the remarkable post modernist state that the USA was to become. Something remains of the West, always, and something remains of the post-Enlightenment post-religious character of the individual, with the sudden fortuitous turns of capitalism woven into the new style story of hope.

This incredible sense of achievement is wound into Dust Be My Destiny (1939) in various scenes of journalism and media noir in which John Garfield's character by chance becomes the most highly paid photo journalist on the continent. It is sudden and surprising but in this vision of this country, this is normal, and this is what you might expect.

Dust Be My Destiny (1939), directed by Lewis Seiler, features John Garfield as Joe Bell, an ex-con who, despite trying to live an honest life, finds himself constantly at odds with society. The film follows Joe as he navigates a series of misfortunes that land him unjustly in prison and later at a prison farm in Florida. The foreman at the farm is a violent drunk, but Joe finds solace in the foreman's daughter, Mabel, played by Priscilla Lane. Their mutual desire for stability leads to their marriage, despite Joe’s persistent bad luck.

The film follows a familiar formula seen in other John Garfield films of the era. Joe, a cynic who feels the world is against him, develops a hardened exterior, frequently lamenting, “What’s the use?” His character begins to soften through Mabel’s love and the kindness of everyday people they encounter while on the run, including an old man, a milkman, and a newspaper editor. 

These encounters, while small, serve to gradually melt Joe’s bitterness. However, his desperate circumstances lead him to contemplate armed robbery, asserting to Mabel that it takes courage to steal, though he ultimately chooses not to follow through with his plan.

In a dramatic turn, Mabel turns Joe in to the authorities before he can do further harm. During his trial, the people Joe met along the way come to his defense, illustrating the film’s message: there are many men like Joe, simply looking for a place to call home, and society has a responsibility to help them find it. By the film’s end, Joe is cleared of wrongdoing, and he and Mabel are finally able to hang their hats in peace.

Dust Be My Destiny was one of Warner Bros.’ last attempts to address the hardships young people faced during the Great Depression, and while it may not rank among Garfield’s top films, it still offers a strong narrative and standout performances. 

Julie and Priscilla Lane’s on-screen chemistry is particularly effective, especially in a nearly silent scene where their characters contemplate splitting up, relying on subtle facial expressions to convey deep emotion. Despite Garfield’s personal disdain for Lane’s acting abilities, they managed to create a believable and heartfelt dynamic on screen.

One of the film’s strengths is Garfield’s portrayal of Joe Bell. He brings a sense of desperate uncertainty to the character, embodying the hopelessness of a young man struggling for a future that seems out of reach. This raw emotion is one of the highlights of Garfield’s early career, and it elevates the film beyond its straightforward plot.

A near tragedy occurred during filming when co-star Billy Halop slipped in front of a moving train while shooting a scene. Luckily, Bobby Jordan was able to pull him to safety, but the incident left Garfield visibly shaken, as it reminded him of similar, more tragic events he had witnessed while riding the rails during the Depression.

Between April 1938 and January 1939, John Garfield, often referred to as "Julie," worked non-stop at Warner Bros., making five films in quick succession. The studio's relentless production schedule left little time to rest, as recalled by Vincent Sherman: "You finished one film on Friday and went in on Monday to start the next one." This constant grind was a hallmark of Warner Bros. during this era, where even weekends offered no reprieve unless an actor was willing to take a suspension.

Garfield, by this time, was spending more time at the studio than at home. Interestingly, he and his wife, Robbe, never owned a home but preferred to rent, moving from place to place like fugitives themselves. Garfield disliked the idea of being tied down by property, saying that a home "gets you" and soon you're working just to support the furniture. Robbe shared his sentiment, never feeling settled in Hollywood or inclined to make it her permanent home.

Despite their transient lifestyle, the Garfields had their own version of nesting. One amusing anecdote illustrates this: after grocery shopping, Garfield would hang a large salami in the kitchen, declaring, "Now we live here!" It was a quirky symbol of their domesticity, even if they weren't conventional homeowners.

Produce packaging upside-down in Dust Be My Destiny (1939)

Produce packaging upside-down in Dust Be My Destiny (1939)

During this period, their neighbors were none other than Humphrey Bogart and his wife, Mayo Methot, known for their turbulent marriage. The Garfields were unprepared for the nightly chaos that erupted across the street, where the Bogarts would engage in loud, violent fights. Vases were thrown, chairs flew through windows, and the yelling continued into the early morning hours. Robbe and Julie would lie awake, unsure if they should call the police, only for Bogart to dismiss the drama casually the next day.

The Garfields experienced the Bogarts’ volatile relationship firstbhand during a studio publicity junket for Dodge City. The hotel rooms of the two couples were adjacent, and the Garfields were kept awake by the same noisy fights. Compared to the Bogarts' tumultuous relationship, the Garfields’ marriage seemed peaceful and solid.

While his home life remained eventful, Garfield's work life was just as demanding. Even when he wasn’t on set, he was busy with photo shoots and press interviews. Despite the grueling pace, Garfield was cooperative with the studio’s publicity demands, though he often used interviews to send messages to his boss, Jack Warner. He compared his efforts to secure better scripts to the fights he had on the streets of New York as a kid, stating, "I'll keep my ground I think is right... until I surrender it of my own accord."

The movie's incredibly attracting salacious tags include:

A boy and a girl...their eyes on the stars...and no place to lay their heads. Fighting the world for the right to live! Here is the simple story of a truly great love! 

WE'RE HUNTED...HOMELESS..Unwanted..BUT DON'T PITY US WE'RE YOUNG..PROUD..IN LOVE! 

A BOY AND A GIRL THAT THE WORLD FORGOT...AND A LOVE IT WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER! 

As Garfield churned out films, Warner Bros. wanted to capitalize on his growing popularity. Though Dust Be My Destiny didn’t kill off his character, Warner sought sequels for films like Four Daughters, even when Garfield's character, Mickey Borden, had died in the original. The Epstein Brothers, tasked with writing the sequel, were perplexed about how to revive Mickey, but Warner was insistent. It didn’t matter how—it just had to happen, a testament to the assembly-line nature of the studio's film production during Garfield’s time.

In sum, Dust Be My Destiny may not be a flawless film, but it effectively captures the era’s struggles and offers a moving performance from Garfield. It remains a noteworthy entry in his filmography, thanks to its portrayal of hope amidst adversity and the quiet strength of its characters. 

John Garfield's reputation has unfortunately been tainted by his accusation of Communism during the McCarthy era, but this should not overshadow his talent as one of the finest actors of his generation. He brought a natural, convincing style to the screen, adapting his theatrical background seamlessly to film. Unfortunately, Warner Bros. often undervalued his talent, casting him in roles that didn't fully showcase his abilities. Despite this, Dust Be My Destiny remains a very watchable film, featuring Garfield in a role he was often assigned—playing a character on the wrong side of the law due to bad luck rather than any criminal inclination.

So down in this great, late, early, fascinating, innocent, fun, fearsome, brave, resolute, entertaining and at times comedic production, Garfield portrays a man on the run after being falsely implicated in the death of his girlfriend’s stepfather.

There is comedy because this is not yet film noir and perhaps there still existed this ancient time belief that a film should and could have a bit of everything to be popular, and so needed light relief, even though film noir doe snot do light relief.  Alongside Priscilla Lane’s character, he embarks on a tense journey, evading the authorities by hopping freight trains and hitchhiking across the countryside. Garfield’s character is embittered and cynical, having been wrongly imprisoned once before. The film creates an exciting narrative, with suspenseful moments that keep the audience engaged.

Garfield’s portrayal of a distrustful and hardened youth showcases the charisma and toughness that made him a star. The chemistry between Garfield and Lane is palpable, adding emotional depth to their characters' plight. Supporting performances from Alan Hale as a compassionate newspaper editor and Henry Armetta as a helpful diner owner further elevate the film.

The movie’s tension builds as the couple narrowly escapes capture multiple times, culminating in a thrilling jailbreak scene. Garfield’s character eventually finds temporary safety when he captures a bank robbery in progress, leading to a job offer as a photographer. However, this newfound fame threatens to expose his fugitive status.

Dust Be My Destiny is not just worth watching for Garfield’s compelling performance, but also for its well-rounded supporting cast and a memorable Max Steiner score. Though the film may not rank among Garfield’s top works, it offers an exciting and engaging viewing experience, solidifying his status as a natural-born actor.

Dust Be My Destiny (1939)

Directed by Lewis Seiler

Genres - Crime, Drama  |   Sub-Genres - Courtroom, Prison Film, Trial Film  |   Release Date - Aug 11, 1939  |   Run Time - 88 min.