The Return of the Soldier (1982)

Kitty Baldry (Julie Christie) is a haughty society queen with a tunnelled view of life. Kitty's complacency is rocked when her husband, Captain Chris Baldry (Sir Alan Bates), returns from ... See full summary »

Director:

Alan Bridges

Writers:

Rebecca West (novel), Hugh Whitemore

Stars:

Julie Christie, Glenda Jackson, Ann-Margret

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julie Christie	...	Kitty Baldry
Glenda Jackson	...	Margaret Grey
Ann-Margret	...	Jenny Baldry
Alan Bates	...	Captain Chris Baldry
Ian Holm	...	Doctor Anderson
Frank Finlay	...	William Grey
Jeremy Kemp	...	Frank
Hilary Mason	...	Ward
John Sharp	...	Pearson
Elizabeth Edmonds	...	Emery
Valerie Whittington	...	Beatrice
Patsy Byrne	...	Mrs. Plummer
Amanda Grinling	...	Alexandra
Edward de Souza	...	Edward
Michael Cochrane	...	Stephen

Storyline

Kitty Baldry (Julie Christie) is a haughty society queen with a tunnelled view of life. Kitty's complacency is rocked when her husband, Captain Chris Baldry (Sir Alan Bates), returns from the front during World War I shell-shocked and suffering amnesia, not knowing who she is, and determined for a reunion with Margaret Grey (Glenda Jackson), a working class lover from his past. Kitty employs psychiatrist Dr. Gilbert Anderson (Sir Ian Holm) to help unscramble her husband's feelings for the women in his new disoriented life, including his all-too caring cousin Jenny (Ann-Margret), but ultimately, comes to realize that the man she knew is unreachable, as dead as the past for which he pines.

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Plot Keywords:

period drama | amnesia | old flame | suppressed memory | family tragedy | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some violent images and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rebecca West's "The Return of the Soldier" (1918) novel is the only one which was written and published by a woman during World War I that was about the war.

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Connections

Referenced in Liberty Street: Return of the Soldier (1995)

User Reviews

Very interesting performances by all., intelligent casting decisions, and notable camerawork

Julie Christie plays a negative wealthy character Kitty (created by novelist Rebecca West) with aplomb. Christie's Kitty is stunningly beautiful and yet is so snooty and possessive of her husband (Alan Bates). Glenda Jackson plays the intelligent, dowdy middleclass, caring, married woman who is the contrasting lover of Kittie's husband's past. Ms West cleverly designed the two characters to have lost a child each, both at the age of five. Both ladies are traumatized equally. However, I found Ann-Margaret, playing Kitty's sister-in-law Jenny, to be better than the other two ladies. Apart from the all round notable performances of all the characters, the casting of the main characters and the camerawork of Stephen Goldbatt (was director Alan Bridges also a contributor to the intelligent camera placing?) were notable. Not a great work, this film, but a delight to watch all the actors and actresses emote in their varied roles.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 February 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

A katona hazatér

Filming Locations:

Selston, Nottinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Barry R. Cooper Productions, Brent Walker Pictures, Skreba Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)