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 (based on an adaptation of her book), David O. Selznick (screen play: by the producer)

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:

homefront | victory garden | lodger | rationing | praying | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the train station among the row of people heard speaking on public telephones, one woman says, "I swear I can't tell the difference between it and butter." The "it" she refers to is margarine, the butter substitute that had been long fought against by the American dairy industry but embraced by Americans when butter was rationed during World War II. Users mixed yellow food coloring into white margarine blocks to make a spread resembling butter.

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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: [studying a map] Wettookit. Wettookit. You must have the name wrong.
Brig Hilton: No. Here it is in Pop's letter. "Now, we're here in Texas on maneuvers... in a little town called Wettookit. We came, we saw, we took it!"
Colonel William G. Smollett: "We took it." Very funny. I would appreciate it, my dear Bridget, if in the future you could spare me from your father's elaborate puns.

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Crazy Credits

Soda, the dog, was played by Dick Whittington.

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Alternate Versions

The DVD release from MGM restores the film's original entr'acte music, and uses a series of different still photos as the backdrop for both the overture and entr'acte. Previous video and laserdisc releases from CBS/Fox repeated the overture as the intermission music, and used the same still photo (the fireplace shown in the opening credits) for both overture and entr'acte. (In original theatrical showings overture and entr'acte music played over a black screen - the visual montages were added for the home video releases.)

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Connections

Referenced in Hollywood Hist-o-Rama: Claudette Colbert (1962)

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Soundtracks

There's No Place Like Home (Home, Sweet Home)
(1823) (uncredited)
Music partly composed, and arranged by H.R. Bishop from a Sicilian air
In the score during the opening scenes (picture of Hilton home)
Reprised in the score later

User Reviews

One of the best movies about life on the 'homefront' during war

Subtle and nuanced in most places, a bit obvious in others, Since you went away may be the best war movie ever made that doesn't have a war scene. It follows the life of a family in the early days of America's entry into World War II. The coming of age thrust upon young men and women is splendidly captured, but central is the silent pain and worry of those who with loved ones in harm's way. Watch for the scene when Mr. Mahoney leaves the movie theater. There is no dialog, and there need not be.

This movie is often shown near the Holidays because of a great Christmas scene,it's general warmth, and its theme of Country, God, and Family.

One of Jennifer Jones' best performances, with strong work by Claudette Colbert, Shirly Temple, Joseph Cotten, Robert Walker, Hattie McDaniel and Monty Woolley. Agnes Moorehead foreshadows her role years later in the series 'Bewtiched', playing the town 'witch'.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Yiddish

Release Date:

20 July 1944 (USA)

Also Known As:

Since You Went Away

Filming Locations:

Richmond, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,257,000 (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