You wouldn't automatically think so, considering the premise.
An American journalist in London during the Blitz gets emotionally involved in his work when he meets some cute, tragic orphans.
In spite of the film's three-hanky outline, it actually works quite well, being both funnier and less drippy than you would ever expect. Robert Young and Laraine Day may be second string leads, but they're really quite effective.
Peter, the orphaned boy with his little lamb, had much more appeal for me than Margaret O'Brien however. I have never really understood the hypnotic hold she had on moviegoers in the '40's. In "Meet Me in St. Louis", she's the albatross around Judy Garland's neck. To me, this film will always be "Journey for Peter's Lamb".
If I were required to choose the best 1940's war orphan film, then my choice would be clear. It wouldn't be "Journey for Margaret". It would be "The Search", the gripping semi-documentary from 1948.
An American journalist in London during the Blitz gets emotionally involved in his work when he meets some cute, tragic orphans.
In spite of the film's three-hanky outline, it actually works quite well, being both funnier and less drippy than you would ever expect. Robert Young and Laraine Day may be second string leads, but they're really quite effective.
Peter, the orphaned boy with his little lamb, had much more appeal for me than Margaret O'Brien however. I have never really understood the hypnotic hold she had on moviegoers in the '40's. In "Meet Me in St. Louis", she's the albatross around Judy Garland's neck. To me, this film will always be "Journey for Peter's Lamb".
If I were required to choose the best 1940's war orphan film, then my choice would be clear. It wouldn't be "Journey for Margaret". It would be "The Search", the gripping semi-documentary from 1948.