SINCE YOU WENT AWAY

US, 1944, 172 minutes, Black and white.
Claudette Colbert, Joseph Cotten, Jennifer Jones, Shirley Temple, Agnes Moorehead, Monty Woolley, Lionel Barrymore, Guy Madison, Robert Walker, Hattie McDaniel?, Craig Stevens, Keenan Wynn, Albert Basserman, Nazimova, Lloyd Corrigan.
Directed by John Cromwell.

Since You Went Away was one of the big and popular films of 1944, nominated for several Oscars including Best Film, Photography, the performances of Claudette Colbert and Jennifer Jones and winning for Max Steiner's score.

It is a prestige production by David Selznick, who wrote the screenplay. It has a strong star cast, relying on the quality of Claudette Colbert's presence and performance. Jennifer Jones had won the Oscar for The Song of Bernadette the year before, was married to Robert Walker who appears in the film and she was to divorce him and marry Selznick. She and Joseph Cotten appeared in several of Selznick's productions. Monty Woolley has another Man Who Came to Dinner - who mellows - role and Lionel Barrymore appears briefly as a preacher.

The film was designed for the average American household - an ideal household. It shows the men going to war, the women staying at home and managing, the women learning that they had to branch out and join in the war effort. There is a blend of humour and tears.

The film was directed by John Cromwell, veteran of many films of the '30s and '40s including The Prisoner of Zenda, Abe Lincoln in Illinois, Stella Dallas. In his later years he acted in some of Robert Altman's films, including the Bishop in A Wedding.

1. A film of the '40s? Morale-boosting? Propaganda? A piece of Americana reflecting the times? impact in its own time, popularity and Oscar nominations? Now?

2. David SeIznick's production values: the long running time, black and white photography, Max Steiner's musical score, the quality cast? The atmosphere of Middle America?

3. The title, the focus on separation in families? The husband leaving the home? The young man leaving the fiancee ? and being killed? The awakening for a need for more war effort?

4. The portrait of the family: Ann and Tim, Claudette Colbert and the opening of the film, the home, the photos, memories of her husband and their love? The two daughters? The bonds between the family? The guest being at home in the family? Tony and the long friendship with Ann and Tim? The daughters growing up? Griefs, coping? Hostility towards Mrs. Hawkins? Tragedy and the realisation that more was to be done? Jane going into hospital care? Ann and her becoming involved in rivetting and metalwork? The happy ending?


5. Ann as the average American mother as seen in the '40s? Claudette Colbert's presence and style? Love for her husband, fidelity to him? Coping with her daughters? Fidelia and her leaving, coming back to help? Jane and Brig and their love for their mother? The idea of the tenant? Colonel Smollett and his arrival, his pedantic attitude? The friendship with Tony and the ease of his being in the house? Friendship with Emily Hawkins and her gossiping, her finally telling her off? Bill and his coming into the house, love for Jane? Ann's discretion at his leaving? Trying to reconcile the Colonel with his grandson? The preacher and her grief? The Christmas celebration? The final phone call? Her waking up, realising that she was being self?centred, going to work? A model for American women of the time?

6. Jane and Brig, teenage girls, in the family, grief for their father, the idea for Colonel Smollett to come, managing with him? Jane and her idolising Tony, the meals, staying at the home, the dances? Her getting the mumps? Tony's leaving? The attraction towards Bill, outing with him, genuine falling in love, sharing ideas, the final day, the engagement, the farewell at the station? Her grief at his death and Ann's way of telling her? Her work in the hospital, helping those in need of psychiatric care? The clash with Emily Hawkins? The happy Christmas and a future? Shirley Temple as Brig, her presence and familiar style? The teenager? Her friendship with the girl who wouldn't say anything? Getting her into the house for Christmas? The contrast between the two girls? Her friendship with Colonel Smollett, clashes with him? The question of the dog on the Colonel's bed?

7. Tony and his friendship with the family, Navy background, devotion to Ann, taking up residence, man about town and the girls, Emily Hawkins and her reaction? Jane's infatuation? His leaving, seeing active service, return, the medal (and his friend being modest for him)?

8. Colonel Smollett and his arrival, Monty Woolley's acerbic style, comedy? Questions about the dog, the mattress, breakfast? His grandson and his lack of rapport with him? The medal? Wanting to like him? Ignoring his presence, its being too late when he left, trying to get to the station, Ann's being a mediator? The news of Bill's death? His being welcomed into the family?

9. Emily Hawkins and Agnes Moorehead's acid style, socialite, gossip, rude? Not taking hints? Her invasion in the house, criticism, the family telling her off?

10. The preacher and the scriptural themes for grief during the war?

11. The backgrouittl of the town, people going off to war, maintaining things at home, servants like Fidelia (and Hattie McDaniel's comic style)? The dances, Bill and Jane and the lonely sailor?

12. An authentic piece of Americana, war morale?boosting and propaganda?