Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by rico (A) on January 27, 2007 at 13:02:23

This 1944 WW II home front weeper is sort of an American "Mrs. miniver" and bridges the gap between that film and Goldwyn's post war "The Best Years of Our Lives". Producer Davis O. Selznick wrote the screenplay, which concerns homemaker Claudette Colbert trying to maintain a sense of normalcy after her army officer husband leaves for the front. On hand are her teen age daughters played by Jennifer Jones and Shirley Temple. The family is cared for by a number of folks, including Hattie McDaniel as (what else?) the family servant and mother surrogate, naval officer Joseph Cotton as hubby's horny best friend, and curmugeonly Monte Wooley as a retired army colonel renting a room at the house. Various home front situations and dilemnas ensue, including romance, shotages,hoarding,
deaths, fighting men missing in action, etc. Agnes Mooehead plays her snooty bigoted society dame to the hilt and of course evntually meets her match. Masters Max Steiner and Stanley Cortez contribute a fine musical score (including overture and entre act segments) and
simply gorgeous noir-ish cinematography. Much is stolen from "..Miniver" (probably by novelist Margaret Buell Wilder) including an inspirational sermon toward the end by clergyman Lionel Barrymore. If you are a fan of the period and multi hankerchief sudsers, this one is surely for you. Almost three hours long.