In England, during early days of the Second World War, Prudence Cathaway (Joan Fontaine), daughter of the aristocratic General Cathaway (Henry Stephenson), announces to her snobbish family that she has joined the Women's Auxiliary Force. When the Cathaways balk at her decision, Prudence lectures them on their outdated values.
At the WAAF training camp, Prudence befriends Violet Worthing (Queenie Leonard), who soon fixes her up with Clive Briggs (Tyrone Power), an army friend of Violet's sweetheart, Joe (John Abbott). Unaware that Prudence is from aristocracy, Clive declares his distaste for all of England's upper class, but Prudence falls in love with him anyway. As their romance flourishes, Clive and Prudence go on their first military leave together, taking a seven-day vacation at the Dover Grand Hotel.
In Dover, Prudence runs into her Aunt Iris Cathaway (Gladys Cooper), but the two merely exchange unfriendly glances. Fearing that her aunt will tell her family about her affair with Clive and that she will be further ostracized by them, Prudence becomes distraught. Clive, too, begins to act strangely, yelling military orders in his sleep and becoming generally distracted.
Later, when Prudence reads the telegram that seemed to trigger Clive's unusual behavior, she learns only that his friend Monty (Thomas Mitchell) is coming to visit him. Prudence later learns that Clive deserted the army after being wounded at Dunkerque, and that Monty has come to return Clive to his regiment before he is officially listed as a deserter. Clive eventually confides in Prudence that he left the service because he disliked defending England's aristocracy. Prudence responds by giving Clive an impassioned lecture about the glory of England. Her speech brings tears to her eyes and drives Clive away.
Clive sets out on foot but does not get far before a farmer (Billy Bevan), mistaking him for a spy, assaults him. The bloodied Clive takes refuge at a nurse's home, but the nurse learns that he is a suspected spy and threatens to call the police. Clive then seeks help from a Vicar (Thomas Louden), who lectures Clive on faith and inspires him to return to his regiment.
Before turning himself in, however, Clive sends Prudence a message to meet him at Charing Cross so that they can be married. On his way to Charing Cross, though, Clive is arrested by military police and taken to headquarters. After pleading with his commander, Clive manages to secure a two-hour leave so that he can meet Prudence one last time. Clive's second attempt to get to Charing Cross in time to meet Prudence is stymied when he is wounded while rescuing a woman and her child from a burning building. Clive is rushed to a hospital, and as his life hangs in the balance, Prudence arranges an impromptu wedding. At Clive's bedside, a nurse, reading from Shakespeare's play Hamlet , says, "This above all: To thine own self be true," after which an air raid siren is heard and darkness descends on the room.
A 1942 American Black & White romance film directed by Anatole Litvak, produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, screenplay by R. C. Sherriff, adapted from Eric Knight's 1941 novel of the same name, cinematography by Arthur Miller, starring Tyrone Power, Joan Fontaine, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Stephenson, Nigel Bruce, Gladys Cooper, Philip Merivale, Sara Allgood, Alexander Knox, Queenie Leonard, Melville Cooper, Jill Esmond, Holmes Herbert, Denis Green, Arthur Shields, Dennis Hoey, Thomas Louden, Miles Mander, and Mary Field. Final screen appearance of Mrs. Wilfrid North.
Appearing in this film are no fewer than twenty performers who appeared in at least one of the Sherlock Holmes movies with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, the latter playing Ramsbottom.
Clive (né Vivian) James chose his name from this character.
The title comes from the famous line in William Shakespeare's "Hamlet," Act I, Scene III: "This above all, to thine own self be true."
Winner of the 15th ACADEMY AWARDS | 1943, Academy Award for Best Art Direction (Black-and-White). Art Direction: Richard Day, Joseph Wright; Interior Decoration: Thomas Little. It was nominated in several other categories, and was the only non-Best Picture Oscar nominee that year to be nominated for Best Editing.
"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60-minute radio adaptation of the movie on September 14, 1942, with Tyrone Power reprising his film role.
Soundtrack music:
"Loch Lomond" - Traditional
"Smiles" - Music by Lee S. Roberts
"Old Soldiers Never Die" - Traditional
"Keep the Home Fires Burning" - Music By Ivor Novello, Lyrics by Lena Guilbert Ford
The New York Times, described Anatole Litvak's engrossing romantic drama as "a taut and poignant war film" and "a very moving love story with a sensitive regard for tensile passions against a background of England at war".
Fontaine's radiant performance and Power's handsomeness make a fine romantic pairing, and this rises above propaganda to be enduring sweet and romantic entertainment.
2 окт 2024
