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Producer David O. Selznick wanted the movie to be as superior as his earlier "Gone with the Wind." That comparison is a bit lofty, but "Since You Went Away" is extremely good - a top-notch Hollywood film in every way. The casting and acting are superlative, particularly Colbert; Temple is also quite good in one of her few young adult roles. The direction by John Cromwell (father of actor James) is stunning, with a multitude of intimate scenes interspersed with some incredible set-pieces, such as the USO cantina dance. Perhaps the most famous scene takes place in a train station, with Jennifer Jones tearfully biding goodbye to her boyfriend as she runs alongside his train. The scene was even parodied in "Airplane!"
Although the film teeters toward melodrama at times and the movie is undeniably glossy, but the script is so pitch-perfect and warm that it manages to be tremendously effective. The film may sound like an American retread of 1942's "Mrs. Miniver," but the plot is quite different and even funny at times. The film received a number of Oscar nominations: Picture, Actress (Colbert), Supporting Actor (Woolley), Supporting Actress (Jones); it won for best score. "Since You Went Away" is one of the finest war movies of the 1940s; however, perhaps because of its rather genteel tone, it's been somewhat forgotten, which is really a shame. Most highly recommended.
Planned as David O. Selznick's followup to the classic "Gone With The Wind", "Since You Went Away" had in common with that film the theme of the effect that war has on a family and everything that it values. Despite it's epic size the film surprisingly focuses on a small close knit family unit headed by Anne Hilton(Claudette Colbert in an unforgettable performance), and takes us through the course of one year in the lives of Anne and her two daughters Jane (Jennifer Jones) and Bridget (Brig), (Shirley Temple in her teenage comeback performance). Much is changed and altered forever in their existence through the trials and tribulations inflicted by the war. We see Anne having to find the inner strength to cope with keeping her family together and operating as normal without her husband beside her, while still experiencing the fear and concern for him while he is in constant danger. The financial situation forces Anne to take in a stranger as a source of much needed income and gruff Colonel Smollett (Monty Woolley), joins the household and unknowingly ignites a romance between Jane and his estranged grandson Bill (Robert Walker). As for most families in World War Two the year is an eventful one for good and bad reasons for Anne and her children as they experience the usual shortages and rationing and then receive the dreaded telegram informing Anne that her husband is missing in action. Jane experiences the full force of the hard realities of war when just as her romance with Bill blossoms into marriage plans he is shipped off and killed in active duty. The darkest days are enlivened by the welcome appearance of family friend Lieutenant Tony Willet (Joseph Cotton) who still carries a torch for Anne and provides in his light hearted way much needed focus and direction in those unsettling times. We see Anne develop through the course of the year from a emotionally lost housewife to a woman who develops real inner strength to be able to face the challenges ahead. She learns to become a war time welder and realises by her example and courage that she too can be an inspiration for others as seen in the beautiful scene with fellow factory worker Zosia Koslowska (Alla Nazimova). Priority setting is something that all three women learn during the year as Jane puts aside her studies to become a war time nurse, developing a real maturity in the process and Brig does her part for the war effort by getting involved in all forms of war time activity like recycling and planting a victory garden with Colonel Smollett.
As to be expected with any David O. Selznick production in his golden period every department of the production of "Since You Went Away" is first class. Claudette Colbert was at first reluctant to take on a role where she had a daughter as old as Jennifer Jones but Selznick convinced her that Anne Hilton was the role of a lifetime and she won a richly deserved Academy Award nomination for her performance. Jennifer Jones fresh from her triumph in "The Song of Bernadette" is perfect as Jane and the chemistry between her and Shirley Temple who made an excellent comeback in this film is honest and refreshing. Monty Woolley as the gruff but ultimately endearing Colonel had I feel one of his best roles here and his later scenes with his grandson and his work with Claudette Colbert in particular contains some of the most emotionaly charged exchanges in the story. "Since You Went Away", abounds with beautifully touching moments , the standouts being Anne's reaction to the young boy being killed on a training flight, the lazy last day Jane has with Bill in the country where they get caught in the rain, Colonel Smollett's change of heart about the value of being a "hero" instead of just a decent person, and best of all Jane's emotionally crushing farewell to Bill at the train station before he is shipped off. All of these while aimed at the audience's tear ducts are very realistically written and honestly played which is the reason why almost 60 years later they are still as unforgettable as they were for war time audiences. Directed with a firm understanding of the importance of the subject matter by veteran John Cromwell the pace never lags in this epic as we see seeminly real people doing ordinary things trying to cope under difficult circumstances.
"Since You Went Away", is at the top of my list of wonderful family dramas based around World War Two and in my book is right up there with such legendary films of this era as "Mrs. Miniver". Certainly it contains one of the best pieces of work by Claudette Colbert and once again revealed her great talent. Films such as this which are so moving and memorable even in their simplicity make me lament the current state of much of Hollywood's output that can't come close to productions like this for sheer excellence in execution. I highly recommend this wonderful product of David O. Selznick's genius, the tribute to war time families everywhere, "Since You Went Away".
I found it awkward when the immigrant co-worker of Colbert recited the Lazarus poem off the Statue of Liberty, particularly in view of the segregation of American society and the military. That couldn't be helped in this production, of course.
The entire production is typical of the best of Hollywood then--in other words, yet to be matched by today's filmmakers. The richness of the black-and-white, the basic camera work, the perfect sets. It's why I love these old films.
True, this film is a tearjerker. Nothing wrong with that. True, it might be viewed as a form of propoganda. Nothing wrong with that, either. It remains an eloquent testament to a nation and a time when the 'bad guys' were easy to identify. At the least, I hope viewing this will remind all of us to contribute to the WW II Memorial in Washington!
BTW when is this coming out on DVD?
PS--11/26/04--I just got the DVD version--fantastic video and sound quality, all one could ask. Still the classic, still with an emotional honesty sadly lacking in more modern films.
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