Since You Went Away (1944)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

John Cromwell

Writers:

Margaret Buell Wilder (book)
Margaret Buell Wilder (adaptation)

Release Date:

20 July 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

Great! . . . A Story So Warm . . . So Human . . . So Real . . . you'll wish it might never end! With seven great stars who were never greater!

Plot:

While husband Tim is away during World War II, Anne Hilton copes with problems on the homefront. Taking in a lodger...

Plot Keywords:

Rationing | Lodger | Homefront | Dancing | Clergyman

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 8 nominations

Cast

Claudette Colbert	...	Mrs. Anne Hilton
Jennifer Jones	...	Jane Deborah Hilton
Joseph Cotten	...	Lieutenant Tony Willett
Shirley Temple	...	Bridget 'Brig' Hilton
Monty Woolley	...	Colonel William G. Smollett
Lionel Barrymore	...	Clergyman
Robert Walker	...	Corporal William G. 'Bill' Smollett II
Hattie McDaniel	...	Fidelia
Agnes Moorehead	...	Mrs. Emily Hawkins
Alla Nazimova	...	Zofia Koslowska (as Nazimova)
Albert Bassermann	...	Dr. Sigmund Gottlieb Golden
Gordon Oliver	...	Marine Officer Seeking Room
Keenan Wynn	...	Lieutenant Solomon
Guy Madison	...	Sailor Harold E. Smith
Craig Stevens	...	Danny Williams

Runtime:

UK:172 min | USA:130 min (1949 re-release) | 177 min (DVD version) | 172 min (copyright length)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Yiddish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:TV-G (TV rating) | UK:U | Australia:G | Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #9990) | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Church of the Angels - 1100 Avenue 64, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Vanguard Films (III)

Trivia:

Jennifer Jones and Robert Walker play young lovers. In real life, they were at the end of a failed marriage and divorced shortly after. She later married David O. Selznick, the producer of this film.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Colonel William G. Smollett introduces himself as such when he responds to the advertisement for an officer boarder, but is incorrectly called 'Colonel Smollie' by Bridget while tending the victory garden, and again at his birthday party with his cake having 'Colonel Smollie' written on it.

Quotes:

Jane Deborah Hilton: Colonel Smollett, do you mind being talked to at breakfast?
Colonel William G. Smollett: I most certainly do mind.
Jane Deborah Hilton: It's about Bill.
Colonel William G. Smollett: About whom?
Jane Deborah Hilton: Bill. You remember, your grandson.
Colonel William G. Smollett: Yes indeed, I do remember. What about him?
Jane Deborah Hilton: He's a nice boy.
Colonel William G. Smollett: A most interesting observation, Miss Hilton.
Jane Deborah Hilton: I'm afraid you don't understand him. He really needs you to help him, like a mother. He has an inferiority complex, and -
Colonel William G. Smollett: Young woman, I have handled men for 35 years, and I don't think I require any instructions on the subject, least of all about my own grandson!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Airplane! (1980)

Soundtrack:

Together

This one holds up well

Saw it last evening on TCM. Excellent performances by a stellar cast, filmed at a time when Hollywood and American movie audiences were fully experiencing World War 2 on the "home-front". This film has somehow managed to avoid becoming "dated" and remains entertaining, appealing and instructive to a contemporary audience. The story is primarily about a middle class family and its attempts to deal with problems caused by the war. The characters are decent people confronted by issues that test their faith and ability to carry on with life in a normal way. I particularly enjoyed the performances of Claudette Colbert and Monty Woolley, although the entire cast did excellent jobs. The music was appealing and appropriate and helped create the mood intended. TCM played the opening "Overture" which added to the production quality. Three hours is a long sitting but this one is worth it.