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130 of 132 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A MAGICAL CHARMER ., August 26, 2002
This review is from: Enchanted Cottage (RKO Collection) [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This unforgettable film is for lovers of love stories. THE ENCHANTED COTTAGE contains the message that true love is etched in the human heart and beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder. Young is an embittered, suicidal and facially disfigured WWI veteran who meets McGuire, a girl so plain that no one would look at her twice. They eventually marry and move into a secluded cottage which is enchanted by the love found within its walls by its previous occupants over the years: it is a Honeymoon cottage of which Natwick knows to contain a legendary spell. Slowly and miraculously, through their love for each other, the couple find each-other immensely attractive to each other: Young has regained his youthful handsomeness and McGuire is blossomed into a great beauty. The film's theme of love's triumph over adversity was cruelly attacked by many critics in 1945, but the story is beautifully handled, written and tastefully acted. Young and McGuire underplay their roles which would easily have been labled histrionic in less capable hands. In supporting roles, Mildred Natwick and Herbert Marshall are fine. First filmed as the silent FOREVER in 1924 with Richard Barthelmess and May McAvoy, this was Robert Young's personal favourite of all his movies.
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72 of 72 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Greatest Movies Ever Made, May 16, 2002
This review is from: Enchanted Cottage (RKO Collection) [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I can't say enough about this film. It is absolutely outstanding with fantastic acting by Robert Young and Dorothy McGuire. I taped it off television years ago and was absolutely mesmerized the first time I watched it. It continues to have an impact on me each time I see it. It's a story about beauty being in the eye of the beholder and shatters the idea that beauty is only in outward appearance. Kindness is presented as a most important virtue. It is suspenseful in parts and the nature of the cottage's enchantment is not revealed until the end of the movie. Not a coincidence that the couple's best friend is a blind man who truly sees them as they are. It's a nice romantic movie. Who could ever replace Robert Young? Too bad it's not presently available on DVD or at least more readily available on VHS. I also wonder if it was ever colourized. Oh yeah, it is in B & W, but you don't really notice that while watching it as it is so interesting. Feb. 2005 - I'm editing this review because I just found out that there is a cut and uncut release of the video. I recently purchased a copy of the 1972 release and found out that it is shorter than the one I taped off TV. This one is 78 minutes and two scenes from the beginning of the movie, when Oliver tries to commit suicide and when Laura goes to the party and no one will dance with her, were cut. They are probably the most depressing parts in the movie, but should have been included. *The uncut version is 91 minutes.* I am editing this because I am concerned that some sellers are selling the cut version for very high prices. So, let the buyer beware. Let's hope the DVD is released before not too long, and that the whole movie is included. I'm sorry I didn't realize this earlier.
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62 of 64 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Enchanted Cottage - VHS, September 1, 2005
This review is from: Enchanted Cottage (RKO Collection) [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Ted Turner has taken it upon himself to edit this 1940's classic, by taking out at least two major scenes, and I'm not done with it yet. Infuriating!! If Turner has a secret yen to work in the cutting room, then he should start chopping up the trash that they show now, but leave old classics alone. There is a reason they call them "classics". If Ted had the Mona Lisa, he'd probably stick a Shell Station in the background. I don't know if I'll buy any more classics from Amazon...
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