Since You Went Away (1944)

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:

The original novel by Margaret Buell Wilder is in epistolary form - i.e., it consists of a series of letters that she wrote to her husband while he was away at war.

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:

Major Sam Atkins: Hello, Tony. I didn't know you were in town.
Lieutenant Tony Willett: Hello, Sam. It's quite a dance you fellows are putting on here. What's the matter? You look upset.
Major Sam Atkins: Just got some bad news. Good evening, Mrs. Hilton.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: Good evening, Major.
Major Sam Atkins: Plane crash. Don't say anything about it now, it might spoil the fun.
Lieutenant Tony Willett: That's too bad. Where'd it happen?
Major Sam Atkins: Right outside town. Lost one of my best boys.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: What was his name?
Major Sam Atkins: Mahoney. He hit some wires.
Mrs. Anne Hilton: Oh, not Johnny!
[...]

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

The Dipsy Doodle

Underrated and I disagree with other viewer's comments

I thought this film was nicely naturalistic rather than melodramatic- in that the naivete, sincerity and hopeful nature of people in the context of 1940s smalltown America was honestly portrayed by all of the principle actors. A pleasant counterpoint to "The Best Years of Our Lives"- yes, admittedly much more of a striving to be cheerful/optimistic bit of propaganda than "Best Years", but similar in tone nonetheless. I also recommend this film for the intriguing casting of Robert Walker (best known as psychopath Bruno Antony in Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train") as Jennifer Jones' somewhat wishy washy yet ultimately tragic boyfriend- the infamous scene where Jones tearfully bids him farewell as his battlefield destined train departs is classic. Genuinely emotional. Not one of the all time best movies I have ever seen, but certainly worth a watch. Probably of interest to Shirley Temple fans, too, as it is one of her 'young adult' roles.