The conceits behind this romantic movie relate to the mental health issues of an active soldier in WW2 (PTSD) and the criminal (prison) record of a woman convicted of manslaughter when a man who was sexually assaulting her fell to his death as a result of her defending herself (#MeToo).
Both resonate strongly in 2022. What might be surprising to some is the nuanced and sensitive way the issues are treated. The film is really not about those issues it's just about the secrets that we keep and how they can get in the way of true love etc.
But it does mean the film holds up very well. It's inteligent and warm and it's leads have great chemistry. Two of hollywoods most underrated actors in my book (Rogers incredible dancing obscures her talent as an actress in hindsight). Cotton had a solid career as both leading man and character actor. And pops up in some great movies and in a variety of roles.
His strength here is that he underplays the melodrama of the characters issues and the potential for cloying in scripts of this kind. Rogers always managed to be real even in a time when actresses were often encouraged not to be so (by script, hair, clothes etc) but she exudes an inner life and that makes her a modern type without other flashing signs.
Here they are supported by the ever wonderful Spring Byington, and there is a sweet turn from a maturing Shirley Temple who is spot on as a girl on the cusp of adulthood and switching between the two sometimes in one conversation. It's escapist and old fashioned filmmaking, couldn't be more out of fashion style wise, but I enjoyed it immensely and I think many people will too.
Both resonate strongly in 2022. What might be surprising to some is the nuanced and sensitive way the issues are treated. The film is really not about those issues it's just about the secrets that we keep and how they can get in the way of true love etc.
But it does mean the film holds up very well. It's inteligent and warm and it's leads have great chemistry. Two of hollywoods most underrated actors in my book (Rogers incredible dancing obscures her talent as an actress in hindsight). Cotton had a solid career as both leading man and character actor. And pops up in some great movies and in a variety of roles.
His strength here is that he underplays the melodrama of the characters issues and the potential for cloying in scripts of this kind. Rogers always managed to be real even in a time when actresses were often encouraged not to be so (by script, hair, clothes etc) but she exudes an inner life and that makes her a modern type without other flashing signs.
Here they are supported by the ever wonderful Spring Byington, and there is a sweet turn from a maturing Shirley Temple who is spot on as a girl on the cusp of adulthood and switching between the two sometimes in one conversation. It's escapist and old fashioned filmmaking, couldn't be more out of fashion style wise, but I enjoyed it immensely and I think many people will too.