Since You Went Away (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
At the height of WWII, Hollywood was putting forth its pro-war efforts, including making propaganda movies. 'Since You Went Away' (directed by John Cromwell, among others, & produced by the great David O. Selznick) has a very pro-America approach. And yet, even while focusing on the matriarch of a damaged American family and being very "Rah-Rah-Rah America!" ... it also effectively conveys the dangers & hardships fraught with serving one's country in wartime. As always, war is a bad thing. Onto the plot. Claudette Colbert gives a beautiful performance as Mrs. Anne Hilton, whose beloved husband (whom we never see) has gone off to war (it is now 1943) leaving his upper-middle class family to struggle without his comfortable advertising agency's income.
She must raise her 2 teenaged daughters (Jennifer Jones, Shirley Temple) while trying to put on a good face and maintain a household without her ex-long-time maid, Fidelia (the always enjoyable Hattie McDaniel, of Gone With the Wind). To make ends meet, Anne takes on the cranky, retired Col. Smollett (Monty Woolley) as a boarder. Together, they weather the storm of the war as Mr. Hilton at winds up missing somewhere in the Pacific. All the while, eldest daughter Jane (Jones) falls in love with Smollett's milquetoast grandson Bill (Robert Walker) while maintaining a teen infatuation with old family friend, Tony (Joseph Cotten). Drama ensues.
Director John Cromwell & producer Selznick craft a wonderful drama that impressed me (performances, writing, visuals), while also tugging at my heartstrings. As mentioned, Claudette Colbert is excellent as the loving, admirable Anne; and she rightfully received an Academy Award nomination for this role. Also nommed were Monty Woolley as the boarder with a heart of gold buried beneath his crusty exterior, and Jennifer Jones as the love struck, innocent Jane. I kinda fell in love with her, here. I mentioned that she's 'innocent', and she is -- but it is fun to see her good-girl intentions tested by her budding hormones, as well.
Joseph Cotten is his typically droll, exceedingly likeable self as Tony. Agnes Moorehead is great as the snooty, wealthy busybody whose disdain for the lower classes finally become a deal-breaker for Anne. And young Robert Walker impresses as Bill, who loves his hard-to-impress grandfather and Jane in equal measure. Special mention must go to the lovable bull dog whose frequent attendance during family festivities adds humor & emotion at just the right moments.
'Since You Went Away' is the kind of war drama that will please most audiences - those who support/praise war efforts, but also for those who are frustrated with it & hoping for fast resolutions (so that loved ones can return home alive). Selznick had hoped that 'SYWA' would be the next Gone with the Wind -- it isn't. Though it made a ton of $$ and received great reviews, it goes too soft in places and, it's 175 minute run time is uncalled for. That said, I enjoyed the movie immensely. The performances are completely endearing (I wanted Colbert for a mother, Jones for a sister, Fidelia for a maid, the bulldog for my pet, etc, etc.). The craftsmanship on display is superb (black-&-white cinematography, sets, costumes, & fantastic music score). And the film's final moments nearly flattened me.
She must raise her 2 teenaged daughters (Jennifer Jones, Shirley Temple) while trying to put on a good face and maintain a household without her ex-long-time maid, Fidelia (the always enjoyable Hattie McDaniel, of Gone With the Wind). To make ends meet, Anne takes on the cranky, retired Col. Smollett (Monty Woolley) as a boarder. Together, they weather the storm of the war as Mr. Hilton at winds up missing somewhere in the Pacific. All the while, eldest daughter Jane (Jones) falls in love with Smollett's milquetoast grandson Bill (Robert Walker) while maintaining a teen infatuation with old family friend, Tony (Joseph Cotten). Drama ensues.
Director John Cromwell & producer Selznick craft a wonderful drama that impressed me (performances, writing, visuals), while also tugging at my heartstrings. As mentioned, Claudette Colbert is excellent as the loving, admirable Anne; and she rightfully received an Academy Award nomination for this role. Also nommed were Monty Woolley as the boarder with a heart of gold buried beneath his crusty exterior, and Jennifer Jones as the love struck, innocent Jane. I kinda fell in love with her, here. I mentioned that she's 'innocent', and she is -- but it is fun to see her good-girl intentions tested by her budding hormones, as well.
Joseph Cotten is his typically droll, exceedingly likeable self as Tony. Agnes Moorehead is great as the snooty, wealthy busybody whose disdain for the lower classes finally become a deal-breaker for Anne. And young Robert Walker impresses as Bill, who loves his hard-to-impress grandfather and Jane in equal measure. Special mention must go to the lovable bull dog whose frequent attendance during family festivities adds humor & emotion at just the right moments.
'Since You Went Away' is the kind of war drama that will please most audiences - those who support/praise war efforts, but also for those who are frustrated with it & hoping for fast resolutions (so that loved ones can return home alive). Selznick had hoped that 'SYWA' would be the next Gone with the Wind -- it isn't. Though it made a ton of $$ and received great reviews, it goes too soft in places and, it's 175 minute run time is uncalled for. That said, I enjoyed the movie immensely. The performances are completely endearing (I wanted Colbert for a mother, Jones for a sister, Fidelia for a maid, the bulldog for my pet, etc, etc.). The craftsmanship on display is superb (black-&-white cinematography, sets, costumes, & fantastic music score). And the film's final moments nearly flattened me.