Since You Went Away (1944)

With her husband away to fight in World War II, a housewife struggles to care for their two daughters - and a pair of lodgers who have moved in - alone.

Directors:

John Cromwell, Edward F. Cline (uncredited)

Writers:

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

Stars:

Claudette Colbert, Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten

Won 1 Oscar. Another 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Claudette Colbert	...	Anne Hilton
Jennifer Jones	...	Jane Hilton
Joseph Cotten	...	Lt. Tony Willett
Shirley Temple	...	Brig Hilton
Monty Woolley	...	Col. William G. Smollett
Lionel Barrymore	...	Clergyman
Robert Walker	...	Cpl. Bill Smollett 2nd
Hattie McDaniel	...	Fidelia
Agnes Moorehead	...	Emily Hawkins
Alla Nazimova	...	Zofia Koslowska (as Nazimova)
Albert Bassermann	...	Dr. Sigmund Gottlieb Golden
Gordon Oliver	...	Marine Officer Seeking Room
Keenan Wynn	...	Lt. Solomon
Guy Madison	...	Hal Smith
Craig Stevens	...	Danny Williams

Storyline

While husband Tim is away during World War II, Anne Hilton copes with problems on the homefront. Taking in a lodger, Colonel Smollett, to help make ends meet and dealing with shortages and rationing are minor inconveniences compared to the love affair daughter Jane and the Colonel's grandson conduct.

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Plot Keywords:

lodger | homefront | rationing | praying | bedtime prayer | 

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Taglines:

With the Greatest All Star Cast in Screen History!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Yiddish

Release Date:

20 July 1944 (USA)

Also Known As:

Desde que te fuiste

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$2,400,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Selznick International Pictures,Vanguard Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min (1949 re-release) 177 min (DVD) 172 min (copyright length)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Selznick originally filmed a fifteen page speech about the war effort with Fred Stone. Unhappy with the footage, he scrapped it and paid Charles Coburn $10,000 to redo it. Still unhappy with the result, Selznick scrapped the sequence.

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Goofs

Colonel William G. Smollett introduces himself as such when he responds to the advertisement for an officer boarder, but is called 'Colonel Smollie' by Bridget whilst tending the victory garden, and again at his birthday party with his cake having 'Colonel Smollie' written on it. Although Bridget and the other family members know his correct surname and, at the beginning, address him by it, they later, clearly address him as 'Smollie' as an affectionate family nickname.

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Quotes

Colonel William G. Smollett: Good morning. Mrs. Hilton, I presume?
Anne Hilton: Yes.
Colonel William G. Smollett: May I be permitted to observe that this is the first house I've found in this godforsaken community that doesn't smell of cabbage.
Anne Hilton: Well, it does sometimes.
Colonel William G. Smollett: I was given to understand at the office of the Purchasing Division, to which I have the misfortune to be attached, that you had a room for rent.
Anne Hilton: Yes, but I specified an officer. You see, my husband...
Colonel William G. Smollett: My name is Smollett, William G., Colonel, United States Army, retired. Retired, I might add, by ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: This is a story of the Unconquerable Fortress: the American Home . . . 1943

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Alternate Versions

Original prints were presented in sepia, rather than black-and-white. It has been suggested that the sepia tone was selected as it gave the film the look of an old postcard, augmenting the sentimental tone of the movie.

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Connections

Featured in Going Hollywood: The War Years (1988)

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Soundtracks

Jingle Bells
(1857) (uncredited)
Written by James Pierpont
Sung a cappella by carollers, including Jimmy Clemons Jr.

User Reviews

History repeats itself

Watching this film, we couldn't help drawing a parallel between what the Hilton family went through in the early 40s to the actual conflict in Iraq. The film makes clear the hard times on the families left behind. The government, unfortunately, doesn't provide for the people that have to sacrifice a great deal by making do with a reduced income in order to survive, while the men, or women are away in combat.

John Cromwell directs the film with an accurate eye for details. There is a lovely sequence at an airfield hangar where we see couples in silhouette dancing a waltz. It's at that time when war seems so far away from the lives of the family at the center of the story. This is a distraction that is shattered shortly thereafter when Anne Hilton learns about the airplane accident where the young son of her grocer dies. War shows its ugly face no matter how far removed one is from the actual theater of operations, as it is in this case.

David O. Selznick adapted the novel in which the film is based. It runs for almost three hours, and it could have used some cutting, but this movie has proved to be a favorite for many that have discovered it years after it was first released.

Claudette Colbert was an accomplished actress who made this Anne Hilton come alive. Jennifer Jones is a compelling Jane, a girl deprived of a father and confused about what she want from life. Joseph Cotten plays Tony, the man who comes into the lives of the Hilton women. Monty Woolley, Robert Walker, Agnes Moorhead all have excellent moments where they shine.

It was also good to see in minor roles people that would go on to have careers of their own. Guy Madison, Keenan Wynn, Craig Stevens appear in the film shortly, but they leave their mark on it.

This is a film that will not disappoint.