Since You Went Away

Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Love Story
Review: I wasn't alive during World War II, but this movie along with The Best Years of Our Lives made me long for that feeling of love of America that people had so long ago. All of the actors in Since You Went Away made me feel that this was a labor of love. I was particularly moved by the performances of Claudette Colbert, Joseph Cotten and Monty Woolley. They could be members of my family now. It's a shame that this movie is no longer available on videotape. I think the children in our country need to see the type of patriotism that was once present in our country. I think that David Selznick gave us the two best movies of all times: Since You Went Away and Gone With the Wind!

Rating:
Summary: other Great tearjerkers
Review: If you really want to cry,see "Tomorrow Is Forever" with Claudette Colbert,Orson Welles,George Brent and Natalie Wood in her first film role as a very young Austrian refugee."Lidice",which is near impossible to find,will consume all of your Kleenex inventory and if you want gut-wrenching heartbreak,check out the Russian classic (available on DVD)"Come and See".PS Ironiccally,Max Steiner,who wrote the film score and won the Oscar for Best Film Score that year is not referred to anywhere on the "Since You Went Away" jacket/packaging.

Rating:
Summary: Yes, It's a melodrama, but they knew how to make them
Review: It's a melodrama, but it's so well-played that you won't mind the plethora of misfortunes that befall the family of women (Teresa Wright as an adolescent, Shirley Temple as a "tween", and Claudette Cobert as their mother)left alone when the father has to go off to war. This movie was meant as a reminder of just what the men were fighting for, and sentimental as it is, was a good snapshot of peoples' concerns and hopes and travails during WWII. This movie has myriad characters and various story lines to give it a rich, textured feel, like an old family quilt made up of many old, beloved clothes. It's a wonderful winter afternoon movie, or to watch when it's raining. Enjoy it for it's representation of any era, and in remembrance of the bravery of our parents and grandparents.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful WW2 Tribute To The Home Front
Review: Peerless is how I would describe David O. Selznick's beautiful 1944 tribute to the stength and fortitude of those family members fighting the "other war", on the home front while their men were away on active duty overseas. "Since You Went Away", covers this topic in a sensitive, emotionally charged and at times quite stark manner that never fails to move and touch me with its beautiful writing, flawless acting performances and quite simple message of pulling together in times of need for the better good of all.

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".

Rating:
Summary: Among the best WWII homefront classics
Review: She as always is great; with Monty Wooley, Joseph Cotton, Shirley Temple, and - the really artful story within the story of Jennifer Jones and Robert Walker in the war.
This is for all ages today if you like the very best of Hollywood golden years of film-making including some really great war movies.
A great story, including a memorable scene at a serviceman's dance, and the great scene between Jennifer Jones and Robert Walker in the country on a farm. It was a different time and simpler life and this really nails what it was like - for all.
.... if you don't believe it, you've got to also get The Clock with Robt Walker and Judy Garland, when she was at her most radiant and beautiful and best as an actress - And one of the finest epic war movies very early on which was superb with Robt Walker, Battan.
You won't be disappointed. They made the best stories, casts and sets in movies then.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies of all time.
Review: Since you went away is a perfectly casted and written screenplay. Shirley Temple delivers her best performance and Claudette Colbert & Jennifer Jones rounds out this heart warming World War II tale about home front America. The film delivers tears and laughter and the promise of hope. Unlike todays films which consist of special effects to hide the lack of acting skills of it's performers, Since you went away delivers powerful acting from it's stars and supporting cast. A must watch film. Wouldn't it be wonderful if people today held the same ideals of the World War II generation.

Rating:
Summary: Oldie-Goldie Masterpiece!
Review: This is a great l944 movie from David Selznick ("Gone with the Wind") to watch around the holidays, especially on a snowy afternoon because some of the best scenes in this classic occur against a wintry backdrop and at Christmas. Claudette Colbert portrays Ann Hilton, the courageous mother of two daughters: sensitive, romantic Jennifer Jones and her earthy, likeable sister, Shirley Temple. Throughout the movie, you see how they try to cope in an America of the 40s with World War II raging and Mr. Hilton has gone off to fight the enemy. The Gone-With-the-Wind long length sparkles with numerous great turns by Hollywood's greatest: Hattie McDaniel as Vadelia, the legendary Nazimova as a Russian emigrant,Agnes Morehead as the vicious, shallow hypocrite (a role she mastered in), etc. Selznick later wished he had filmed this classic in color. But the ravishing photography shimmers in its luscious black and white. Shadows galore, great crane shots, windows always sparkling from rain or gleaming with snow. A fascinating, poignant look at a long-ago America during World War II, where hearths always crackled invitingly, families sat around playing cards for fun (no TV yet) and Western Union could deliver news that horrified or give one hope. The final scene of the Hilton women, gathered close together as they read that fateful telegram is unforgettable. Selznick wanted this movie to outdo his mythical masterpiece, "Gone with the Wind." Of course it didn't. There's only one GWTW but "Since You Went Away" certainly played to tens of millions of movie goers during the 40s (it's listed as one of Hollwood's all-time highest grossing movies)and once you've seen it, you'll never forget Ann Hilton and Daughters as they struggle to keep the homefront strong. By the way, the unlucky unknown actor playing Mr. Hilton had all of his scenes cut out and you only see him briefly as a framed photograph.I've written much about David Selznick in my book on old Hollywood, "The Kiss of King Kong."

Rating:
Summary: Oldie-Goldie Masterpiece!
Review: This is a great l944 movie from David Selznick ("Gone with the Wind") to watch around the holidays, especially on a snowy afternoon because some of the best scenes in this classic occur against a wintry backdrop and at Christmas. Claudette Colbert portrays Ann Hilton, the courageous mother of two daughters: sensitive, romantic Jennifer Jones and her earthy, likeable sister, Shirley Temple. Throughout the movie, you see how they try to cope in an America of the 40s with World War II raging and Mr. Hilton has gone off to fight the enemy. The Gone-With-the-Wind long length sparkles with numerous great turns by Hollywood's greatest: Hattie McDaniel as Vadelia, the legendary Nazimova as a Russian emigrant,Agnes Morehead as the vicious, shallow hypocrite (a role she mastered in), etc. Selznick later wished he had filmed this classic in color. But the ravishing photography shimmers in its luscious black and white. Shadows galore, great crane shots, windows always sparkling from rain or gleaming with snow. A fascinating, poignant look at a long-ago America during World War II, where hearths always crackled invitingly, families sat around playing cards for fun (no TV yet) and Western Union could deliver news that horrified or give one hope. The final scene of the Hilton women, gathered close together as they read that fateful telegram is unforgettable. Selznick wanted this movie to outdo his mythical masterpiece, "Gone with the Wind." Of course it didn't. There's only one GWTW but "Since You Went Away" certainly played to tens of millions of movie goers during the 40s (it's listed as one of Hollwood's all-time highest grossing movies)and once you've seen it, you'll never forget Ann Hilton and Daughters as they struggle to keep the homefront strong. By the way, the unlucky unknown actor playing Mr. Hilton had all of his scenes cut out and you only see him briefly as a framed photograph.I've written much about David Selznick in my book on old Hollywood, "The Kiss of King Kong."

Rating:
Summary: Favorite all-time movie
Review: This is my favorite all-time movie.The cast is wonderful and it has a happy ending. I think it depicts wartime on the homefront exceptionally well.A classic that never gets old.

Rating:
Summary: Such an Unforgettable and Heartwarming Movie!
Review: This is such a wonderful old classic that will always be one of my favorites. Al always, Claudette Colbert gives an outstanding performance as a wife and mother. The last part of the movie where she is alone by the Christmas tree and so saddened by the absence of her husband is the most heartbreaking of all. Of all movies to be made available on video, this one should be at the top. Please bring it back! Bring back Tobacco Road too.