Rating: 
Summary: Classical Romance
Review: I had noticed this movie because it showed up strong in the 1942 Oscar nominees although I don't believe it won anything. I finally got a chance to see it on Turner Classic Movies and was very impressed with the emotional impact of this movie. This a Romance movie for the ages. It is the story of a amnesiac who falls in love. This allows for many possibilities and the story uses a lot of them and others that you'd never have imagined. It takes us on an emotional roller coaster that eventually leaves everyone with a warmer feeling than they expected. Although it is the story that is the strength of the movie, the acting supurbly helps to bring it to life. Two of the best talents of their day; Ronald Coleman and Greer Garson, give outstanding perfromances. There is a scene early in the movie in which Coleman's character is presented to an elderly couple as possibly their son who was missing in action. He isn't and as we hear their disappointment, we watch the very subtle display of similar disappointment on the part of Coleman. His excellent protrayal of a man bewildered by not knowing who he is makes the first part of the movie that much better. I can't reveal the rest of the story because the twists and truns of the plot are more enjoyable without a road map.
This movie has its' faults. Part of it comes from my overly practical nature. After about the first seventh of the movie, the situation changes somewhat and I found myself wondering whose income is paying for everything. It may have been over-reaching on my part but, on the other hand, having a maid in a household with no apparent income was an error on someone in the production staff. There is another serious flaw in how the movie dealt with the loss of a third member of the household. This is dealt with in such a passing matter that it really bothered me. After all, we become emotionally involved with these people and their lives so we come to expect some respect for our own emotions. Given how the movie handled this matter, I wonder why this character was introduced to us in the first place. I'm sure that you'll know what I mean when you see the movie.
The movie challenges our concepts of the nature of love and relationships; is it circumstantial, happenstancial, or will the right two people always fall in love with each other as long as they have the opportunity to meet? I found myself disagreeing with the premise of the story on this subject as it took yet another twist. However, I appreciated the way the movie made me consider the question.
I don't normally list several objections to any book or movie that I give a 5 star rating to. I am more than happy to overlook my criticisms because of "Random Harvest"'s remarkable ability to touch our emotions so deeply. This is a movie I saw by myself the first time. When I had the chance to see it again, I made sure my wife watched it with me. It is a very special movie that is best watched with the one you love.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Little, Too Late...
Review: I just received my pre-release notice for "Random Harvest" and I am greatly disappointed. Why did WB delay the release of such a long-awaited DVD until almost three weeks AFTER Christmas (Jan 11, 2005)? And provide no technical info about the DVD's format or content. What are they thinking over there at Warner Home Theater? Do they want to sell any of these discs? With a little intelligent scheduling this release would have made an excellent 2004 Christmas gift! Releasing it in January almost guarantees it to have mediocre sale figures. Once again, Warner Bros. has shot itself in the foot.
Rating:
Summary: BITTERSWEET TEAR-JERKER IN GLORIOUS TRANSFER
Review: One of the all time great four hanky tearjerkers, "Random Harvest" (1942) is a bittersweet tale of love and sacrifice, set against that mythical backdrop of jolly ol' Britain that never was. It stars Ronald Colman as Charles Rainier, a war veteran who is suffering from amnesia. Paula Ridgway (Greer Garson) is the unfortunate dance-hall hostess who falls in love and marries Charles - renamed John Smith. But true love never runs a straight course and John and Paula's brief chance at divine happiness is overturned when a car accident jogs John's memory. He returns to the life he once knew, oblivious that his new and fragile world with Paula ever existed.
Colman's gentlemanly congeniality, as always, astounds with genuine canter and frank grace and maturity - qualities soarly lacking from the leading men of today's cinema. Garson is charming; blowing in as a summer's breeze and just as passionate, divine and charming as Colman. Director Mervyn LeRoy modulates each plot point and circumstance with subtle panache and quiet rectitude for his subject matter. There's never a point at which the melodrama becomes cheap, exploitive or overwrought. Ah, but the years may pass and memories fade, but "Random Harvest" has proven to be that rarest of eternal cinematic treasures - genuine and outstanding in every way.
Warner Home Video delivers a marvelous DVD transfer. The gray scale has been impeccably rendered with fine tonality and attention to fine detail. The picture is generally sharp and pleasing on the eyes. Blacks are very rich, deep and solid. Whites are on the whole clean. Occasionally one will detect a note of edge enhancement and the odd age related artifact, but these are bare quibbling on an otherwise flawless presentation. The audio is mono and very nicely balanced. A hint of background hiss is detected in quiescent scenes, but again, for a film element that is pushing 70 plus years, there's really nothing to complain about here. Two vintage short subjects, a trailer gallery and audio only broadcast of the film round out the extras. A very nicely put together trip down memory lane from the good people over at Warner Brothers. Top marks and highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: POTENT WAR TIME ROMANCE IS BIG TIME WEEPIE
Review: The ultimate war time romance, RANDOM HARVEST (1942) is a three hanky love story that could make a stone cry real tears.
Adapted from James Hilton's huge best seller, Ronald Colman is the shell-shocked World War I vet -- an amnesiac -- who marries effervescent Greer Garson. When he's hit by a car, he recovers his memory but forgets the wife he adored. Can their once passionate love be restored?
Mervyn Leroy directed this classic and it was nominated for seven Oscars© including Best Picture.
They don't make movies like this anymore. And I say that with sadness not cynicism.
Rating:
Summary: THEY DON'T MAKE 'EM LIKE THEY USED TO...
Review: This 1942 five hanky tearjerker garnered seven Academy Award nominations and was the number four box office hit of the year. It is a wonderful, sentimental and romantic love story that captures the heart of the viewer. Corny? Sure, but so what. The film is totally absorbing, fueled by wonderful performances by the velvet voiced Ronald Colman and the beautiful Greer Garson. The story revolves around a shell shocked, World War I vet (Ronald Colman), who is suffering from amnesia and convalescing in a sanitorium. He simply cannot remember who he is. One day, he simply walks out of that sanatorium and runs into a dance hall entertainer (Greer Garson), who takes a shine to him. Realizing that he has been under a great strain, she looks after him and, before you know it, they fall in love and marry. Now Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, they rent a little cottage in a quaint country village, and he begins a career as a writer. They have a baby boy. All is rosy and well with their world for three years. One day, John travels to Liverpool, where he is struck by a car. The end result is that he remembers who he was before the war, but has no recollection of the last three years. It turns out that he is wealthy industrialist Charles Rainier. He goes home and takes over the reins of his business. He ultimately engages the services of a wonderful secretary, who turns out to be his wife, though he is unaware of having had any relationship with her, and she does not disclose it to him under advice of the sanatorium psychiatrist, wonderfully played by Phillip Dorn. Steadfast, she patiently waits for the day that he will remember all that they had together. What happens to them is memorable in this story of love lost and found. It is, no doubt, a highly sentimental and manipulative film, as its intention to tug at one's heart strings and render one immobilized by tears. It definitely succeeds in that department. It is also hugely entertaining. They certainly don't make 'em as they used to. All in all, a wonderful film. Fans of Ronald Colman and Greer Garson will love it, as will all those who love classic films.
Rating:
Summary: INSOMNIA AND AMNESIA
Review: When I cannot sleep, and this happens quite often for my own disgrace I read or watch tv. Well, one of this sleepless nights I found out this great film, and in original version. Lucky me! I love amnesia films, and this one is probably my favourite with Anastasia. The story has been told by other revierws, and very well. So I can only say how delightful the film is. Greer Garson is wonderful. She does a great performance. First as Paula, and actress who is sparkling and funny, but also kind. And then she changes. She is a woman with a secret, a secret she cannot reveal . And she suffers in silence being so near to her beloved, that you have to cry. Her dignity is so well performed that I cannot understand why she did not win the Academy Award for this film. And Ronald Colman is wonderful. Fragile and strong. A lost soul and a brilliant bussiness man.
As one of the reviewers marked you do not see the supporting characters, because the two of them make the film.
If you do not know the film watch it, either you have insomnia or not. You will not regret it.
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