SHADOW IN THE SKY

US, 1952, 78 minutes, Black and white.
Ralph Meeker, Nancy Davis, James Whitmore, Jean Hagen, Eduard Franz.
Directed by Fred M. Wilcox.

Shadow in the Sky is a brief film about trauma to soldiers returning from war. Taken for granted after such wars as those in Vietnam and Iraq, this is a reminder of the extent of war damage, psychologically, to the GIs of World War Two. Ralph Meeker is the soldier who has experienced trauma, is disturbed by rain, reverts to his war experiences. James Whitmore is his war buddy whom he saved during the war. Nancy Davis plays Whitmore’s wife, Ralph Meeker’s sister. (She is a rather stolid actress – but emerged better when she was first lady with her husband Ronald Reagan.) Jean Hagen is much better as the girlfriend.

The film shows the experience of the institutions, and the wariness of ordinary couples to deal with people with traumatic stress.

The film was directed by Fred M. Wilcox whose comparatively few films include Lassie Come Home and Forbidden Planet.

1. The film in its time? Eight years after the end of World War Two? The soldiers and the traumatic experiences? People’s understanding at the time? Treatment? Wariness?

2. The black and white photography, the town and the sea, the institution, homes? Ordinary? Musical score?

3. The character of Burt, his experiences, love for his sister, buddies with Lou? In the institution, his experience, telling Stella he wanted to get out? The visits, the table tennis? His friends? The upset young man and his controlling him, especially at the dance? Dancing with Stella? Betty and Lou and their visits? Betty experiencing his trauma? Lou not? The episode and his going under the table with the rain, reliving the past? His coming out, living with Betty and Lou, the buying of the boat, the parents wary about their children? His playing with the children, building the boat, with Chris? The bond with Stella, the beach, their talk? His experiences, the rain not happening at the house when it fell in town? His decision to work with Lou, Stella and her leaving? His upset, going with the boat, asleep, sending Chris home, Chris returning, in the water, overcoming his trauma and rescuing him? The possibilities for the future, the reconciliation with Stella?

4. Betty and Lou, ordinary, the war experience, bringing up the family, visiting Burt, not wanting him at home? Betty and her practicality? The children leaving, rushing to their rescue? The importance of the discussions between Lou and Burt, Burt and his wanting to let Lou go when carrying him, wounded? Lou and his being unwilling to take Burt into the house?

5. Stella, the opening, her appeal to Betty and Lou, her concern about Burt, her living with her father and helping him? Visits to the institution, the dance? Together, the beach? The hopes for the future, moving away, Burt’s decision to stay and work with Lou, her upset? The rescue of the boy? The reconciliation? Hope for the future?

6. The institution, the staff, the man observing? The doctor and his explanations to Betty and Lou? The young man, listening to music, his behaviour at the dance? The other soldiers and their experience of mental disturbance because of their war experiences?

7. A topical drama of war and mental health – in the perspective of later war experiences?