Forever and a Day (1943)

During World War II an American travels to Britain to sell an old house near London that belongs to his family. But he mets Susan Trimble who lives in the house and who is strictly against ... See full summary »

Directors:

Edmund Goulding, Cedric Hardwicke,

Writers:

Charles Bennett, Alan Campbell,

Stars:

George Kirby, Doreen Munroe, May Beatty

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Kirby	...	Wartime Newspaper Vendor
Doreen Munroe	...	Wartime Londoner (as Doreen Monroe)
May Beatty	...	Wartime Londoner Cook
Connie Leon	...	Wartime Londoner
Joy Harington	...	Wartime Bus Conductor (as Joy Harrington)
Kent Smith	...	Gates Trimble Pomfret
Ernest Grooney	...	Hotel Manager
Reginald Gardiner	...	Assistant Hotel Manager
Victor McLaglen	...	Archibald Spavin
Billy Bevan	...	Wartime Cabby
Arthur Treacher	...	Second Air Raid Watcher
Harry Allen	...	First Cockney Air Raid Watcher
Aubrey Mather	...	Man in Air Raid Shelter
Ethel Griffies	...	Wife of Man in Air Raid Shelter
June Lockhart	...	Girl in Air Raid Shelter

Storyline

During World War II an American travels to Britain to sell an old house near London that belongs to his family. But he mets Susan Trimble who lives in the house and who is strictly against the sale. While they spend the night in an air-raid shelter she tells him the story of the building from it's construction in 1804 until present day.

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Plot Keywords:

world war two

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 January 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Changing World

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Admiral Eustace Trimble (played by C. Aubrey Smith) quotes from William Wordsworth's poem "We Must Be Free or Die": "We must be free or die, who speak the tongue / That Shakespeare spoke..." (lines 11-12).

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Soundtracks

"Soldiers of the King"
(uncredited)
Written by Leslie Stuart
Heard during the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

User Reviews

This Old House

This is the saga of a house handed down from generation to generation and the stories of each of the owners. The episodes range from good to better-than-good, but the value here is in the all-star cast; virtually any famous or near-famous British star from the 30's and 40's is in this picture, and even a few 'Yanks'. The nominal stars are Kent Smith and Ruth Warrick, she the present (1942) tenant. He stops in to sell it, and they swap stories about the different owners throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

In all, seven directors and 21 writers are given credit for working on the film, as well as 79 actors and actresses. It is a "sentimental story with some amusing and affecting passages, but as the story is somewhat hackneyed it is well-served by some superb performances" (Bosley Crowther, NY Times, 3/43). But I think to arrive at the most satisfactory effect one should necessarily be from the Sceptered Isle. I am a 'Yank' and didn't get that effect, but it was still good entertainment. It was shown at the Columbus,O. Cinevent, 5/12.