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 | Military Officer | Retiree

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:

Shirley Temple had been in retirement for two years when David O. Selznick persuaded her to join the 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: I'm sorry to have interrupted you, Dr. Golden, but I was instructed to get the patient to bed.
Dr. Sigmund Gottlieb Golden: It's all right. He's had quite enough for one day.
Jane Deborah Hilton: Doctor, will Mr. Williams be all right?
Dr. Sigmund Gottlieb Golden: In time. In time. He's a fine young man. He must have another chance at life, and we must work to give it to him.
Jane Deborah Hilton: His burns seem almost healed.
Dr. Sigmund Gottlieb Golden: Yes, his burns, but the most serious injury - that, I'm afraid, will take more time.
Jane Deborah Hilton: The injury to his mind? Is that what you mean?
Dr. Sigmund Gottlieb Golden: No, not to his mind. To his confidence, in himself and in others. Yes, we must rebuild Danny Williams' life all the way back and all the way forward. Hasn't there every been anyone close to you, Miss Hilton, for whom you would like to have done that?
Jane Deborah Hilton: Yes, there was someone.
Dr. Sigmund Gottlieb Golden: Ah, there was. We must not live in the past, my child. There is a whole wide broken world to mend. Come, come, I mustn't have another patient. How would you like to do a tired old man a favor?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Edited into "Biography: Jennifer Jones: Portrait of a Lady" (2001)

Soundtrack:

America the Beautiful

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'.