Perfect Strangers (1945)

Director:

Alexander Korda

Writers:

Clemence Dane (screenplay)
Clemence Dane (story)

Release Date:

1 November 1945 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Mr. Chips Is Back In A New Thrilling Romance!

Plot:

Robert and Catherine have a quiet little marriage until WWII separates them for three years. Serving...

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | WWII | Nurse | Husband Wife Relationship | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

Won Oscar.

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Robert Donat	...	Robert Wilson
Deborah Kerr	...	Catherine Wilson
Glynis Johns	...	Dizzy Clayton
Ann Todd	...	Elena
Roland Culver	...	Richard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ivor Barnard	...	Chemist
Muriel George	...	Minnie
Allan Jeayes	...	Commander
Eliot Makeham	...	Mr. Staines
Elliott Mason	...	Mrs. Hemmings
Brefni O'Rorke	...	Mr. Hargrove
Edward Rigby	...	Charlie

Also Known As:

Vacation from Marriage (USA)

Runtime:

USA:93 min (US version) (Turner library print) | 102 min (original version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

London Film Productions

Trivia:

Though he is uncredited, this is Roger Moore's film debut.

So THAT'S what war is good for!

Marriage guidance.

The storyline of this movie skims over the surface of it's main characters - a couple who are separated and changed by their experiences in WWII - like a stone across water, therefore never giving either of them any real depth or shape. This may be because the movie opens when, as a couple, they are already set in their staid, unimaginative ways. We never really gain any insight into whether the mundane routine of their marriage stifled their romance, or whether they simply married each other because they believed they might find no-one more suitable, and therefore never knew any passion in their marriage.

Both characters' naive and superficial response to the changes they have undergone are handled just as poorly, symptomatic of the malaise that runs throughout the entire script. Ok, the movie is primarily a comedy but, like many comedies, it's underlying theme and message, is serious. It's effectively a form of propaganda: the war is nearly over, now the rebuilding - of both cities (a devastated London is the backdrop for much of the story), and relationships that have been put on hold for the duration - must begin.

It's a shame because all other aspects of the movie are fairly much top-notch. Donat is excellent as usual, as is Deborah Kerr, both managing to appear sympathetic while motivated by somewhat selfish interests. Glynis Johns and Roland Culver offer able support (although Culver as a romantic character is always difficult for me to believe in), and the story is pacy enough to hold the interest.

I should add that I saw the 92 minute US version (rather than the original UK 102 minute version), which may account for some of the deficiencies in plot/character development.