Customer Reviews

Until They Sail [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With a superb cast and sensitive direction by Robert Wise, "Until They Sail" follows the lives of 4 sisters, who deal with the tragedy and loneliness of war from different perspectives, and in different ways. Joan Fontaine is Anne, who is rigid and virtuous, and Jean Simmons is Barbara, who has only been a bride for a month when her husband leaves for the war. Piper Laurie is Delia, who in desperation marries an obnoxious cad, because he's the only man in town, and Sandra Dee is Evelyn, whose enthusiasm for life cannot be dampened, even by the uncertainty and sadness of the time. Dee was only 13 when this film was made, and it was her delightful screen debut.

Woven into the women's lives are the Americans, who are stationed in New Zealand, among them Jack (Paul Newman), whose principal job in the military is to investigate the potential brides of the enlisted men. After a bad marriage, Jack relies on the comfort of whiskey to get him through the night, until he meets Barbara. Based on a James Michener story, "Until They Sail" is a marvelous wartime melodrama, and though it is essentially a "woman's film," can be appreciated by anyone who likes fine acting and filmmaking. The b&w cinematography by Joseph Ruttenberg is lovely, and when the camera focuses on Jean Simmons's luminous eyes, one realizes what a great actress she was, and how she was able to convey depth and passion with just a look. "Until They Sail" is an underrated classic that depicts the emotional toll on the women left behind in a way that is unique, insightful, and memorable. Total running time is 94 minutes.

The movie is a tale of American marines during WW2 going to train in New Zealand and falling in love with the local girls.

The performance by Paul Newman, as the military lawyer, was aoutstanding. That coupled with Jean Simmons, as the widowed sister lent credence and worth to the movie.

I am happy this film is now available on dvd. This is what I wrote before:

I too think this is an excellent film, I recently rewatched it on TCM. I wish some company would put out a dvd of it. Meeting in Australia during World War II, the gorgeous Jean Simmons and charismatic Paul Newman have a very grown up, slow starting romance, full of wary sadness. Joan Fontaine is effective as the judgmental sister who eventually melts. Sandra Dee is indeed charming in an early role. And Piper Laurie is excellent and a little scary as the "promiscuous," troubled sister. One reason it's so first-rate is the screenplay is by Robert Anderson, the talented writer of the play "Tea and Sympathy," and the screenwriter of the film "The Nun's Story." Among other things, he had a real affinity for writing sensitive, nuanced women. And the director is Robert Wise, an eclectic director who has made many great movies. Put out a dvd of this, someone.

Note: this film has been put on DVD-R where Amazon copies on demand the film in question onto a DVD. The quality is usually good. It does mean there are no extras, including no "scene selection" and no closed captions. You can skip ahead in the film, chunk by chunk; but you can't just go to "scene 22" (as a made up example) if it's your favorite scene, you have to go from scene 1 to scene 2 to scene 3, etc.

However, it's a very engrossing, adult film. And I bought a DVD-R from one of the sellers (-importcds), it was thus a bit less expensive, it came on time, and the black and white film looks very handsome.

Though filmed during a time when the moral codes prevented even the slightest hint of inpropriety, Until They Sail dealt with quite a scandalous subject: emotional and sexual relationships which sprung willy-nilly during the stressful times of war. The movie captures all aspects of wartime lonliness: youngest sister Evelyn's harmless puppy crushes, middle sister Dee's passionate sexual flings, big sister Anne's unexpected heartfelt first love, and Barbara's recovery as a young widow in the arms of ever-gorgeous Paul Newman. But what makes this movie so worth watching isn't just the diversity of the stories but the ability to capture the raw emotions and truth felt by the characters. In one poignant scene by a lake, Newman's character forwarns Simmons that he has no aspirations of love or marriage before surrendering himself to his lonliness. It's one of the most passionate and desperate scenes I've ever seen. The hunger spoken of previously is almost palpable.

I recently saw this movie and loved it. I had never heard of it and was totally floored by the great cast and story. A story seldom told of how it was for women "back home" during the war. In this case New Zealand where most of the men have gone to war. The four sisters deal differently with how their world is turned upside down by the war, loneliness, intrusion of strangers (American GI's) and finally the need for love at a time of so much death and destruction. Sandra Dee in her first role is fantastic and clearly shows the caliber of actress she could have become if Hollywood had not "packaged" her. I highly recommend this movie and I am glad I have found it at Amazon as I am buying it immediately.

I've just finished watching Until They Sail and I just loved it. The lovely Jean Simmons is just right in her role, a New Zealand girl who ends up falling in love with American Paul Newman. They don't make movies like this anymore and, though some would say Thank Goodness, I miss the days where there was a moral code and even though many people didn't follow the rules, the code guided us nonetheless. Watch this wonderful film and escape into the past for a quick 90 minutes with some wonderful people.

Very entertaining movie. Re-mastered beautifully, you can note this especially when viewing the trailer. The story has some interesting twists and surprises and is quite thought provoking.Until They Sail (Remastered)

I saw this movie when it was first released in 1957 when I was yet a college student. At that time I found it just a bit depressing and not a romance to my liking. It just didn't have the dreamy and romantic quality I wanted in a film...Then!! After all it was 1957 and I was all of 20.

Still I never forget it. Lately I have been viewing other movies I remember. This one was not out in DVD until recently and then I had to wait while it was reordered. Could it be that people are discovering early Paul Newman and vintage films of good quality?

Mainly the story line is about four sisters: Sandra Dee, Joan Fontaine, (Rebecca, Jane Eyre, Suspicion), Piper Laurie, and Jean Simmons who play out their lives in New Zealand while their men (boys)in uniform have sailed to distant duties. Meanwhile American soldiers are stationed in their port cities. The window scene oft repeated in the film shows ships sailing and reflects the theme visually.

Sandra Dee's first movie proved to launch her into starring roles within a decade..even a Douglas Sirk melodrama with Lana Turner as her mother. She reflects a brilliant maturity in this one considering she was 13 playing a teenager from 14-18.

"Until they Sail" is filmed in b/w which reflects the somber mood of the story. This is no Sirk melodrama like "Written on the Wind" or "Magnificent obsession." but this is good and worth viewing. Mainly the film shows the things that can happen during wartime at any time in any country. The home boys go off to war and the women are left to trace their journeys on a wall map while the visiting soldiers gracious accept hospitality and sometimes more from their female hosts.

This is a Paul Newman I would like to have seen more of back then before he took on the tough and cynical kind of roles he became famous for. He is vulnerable and sensitive and I liked him like that. Joan Fontaine and Charles Drake share tender scenes and moments together. Piper Laurie does a wonderful take on the promiscuious sister. She is someone you have trouble liking at all in this film up to her untimely demise. She makes you feel that way because she is that good in this role. But it is Jean Simmons as the widowed sister who falls in love with Newman who carries the picture to it's predictable conclusion.

I didn't read the Mitchner story upon which the book is based; but I do wonder if they changed the ending to one of the more standard Hollywood ones. (not saying how it ends, however) Mainly though much goes on before and until they sail and sometimes even afterwards. Good movie, worth the price of the DVD as long as they last.

WHY HAS THIS FILM NOT COME OUT AS DVD YET!!!????
It is a wonderful black and white film about WW II romance;
both Paul Newman and Jean Simmons are marvelous!
A must-see movie for all romantics!!

One of my all time favorite movies. How do we get someone to put out in DVD format?