The other users have described the plot so no further comment is necessary therefore I will restrict myself to the acting and character portrayals.This film was produced in the same year that "Since You Went Away" was released by Selznick and contains two actors in that film, Shirley Temple and Joseph Cotton.It certainly did not have the same budget or production values as the aforesaid film, so I could only award it 6/10 as it is a rather straightforward "romcom".
Todays liberal 2009 UK/(US?) courts would probably have given Ginger Rogers' character Mary an absolute discharge where she had no previous convictions and where the prosecution and defence teams agree that no useful purpose would be served to society giving the accused defendant a custodial sentence.However in 1944 the justice system was more severe and literal.To show Ginger Rogers could do straight dramatic roles look no further than "Kitty Foyle" (1940) for which she won her best actress "Oscar".Ginger was 33 when she acted this role so was a little mature but William Dieterle gave her soft focus lens close-ups and a youthful dress to take a few years off her age.
This was the first time I had seen this film which is surprising as I thought I knew most popular 1940s films, it certainly has not been seen on UK TV network stations to my knowledge.After having seen Hitchcock's acclaimed "Shadow of a Doubt" (1943),I was preparing myself for Joseph Cotton to perform another "Uncle Charlie" role especially as he appeared to have suffered psychiatric medical problems.However this suspicion was allayed early on and "Zach" became more normal as the film progressed.One thing puzzled me. How did Zach know which prison to wait for Mary and when she would be returning there especially as she and her relatives had not given him its address.The ending was rather sappy but presumably done to cheer up war time audiences.Also I do wish directors would insist on actors carrying a full suitcase as an empty one is obvious when someone attempts to pick it up, i.e. Mary's initial arrival at her Aunt & Uncle's house.This fault in leaving home scenes still persists in todays soaps/films, despite cinema verite.
Todays liberal 2009 UK/(US?) courts would probably have given Ginger Rogers' character Mary an absolute discharge where she had no previous convictions and where the prosecution and defence teams agree that no useful purpose would be served to society giving the accused defendant a custodial sentence.However in 1944 the justice system was more severe and literal.To show Ginger Rogers could do straight dramatic roles look no further than "Kitty Foyle" (1940) for which she won her best actress "Oscar".Ginger was 33 when she acted this role so was a little mature but William Dieterle gave her soft focus lens close-ups and a youthful dress to take a few years off her age.
This was the first time I had seen this film which is surprising as I thought I knew most popular 1940s films, it certainly has not been seen on UK TV network stations to my knowledge.After having seen Hitchcock's acclaimed "Shadow of a Doubt" (1943),I was preparing myself for Joseph Cotton to perform another "Uncle Charlie" role especially as he appeared to have suffered psychiatric medical problems.However this suspicion was allayed early on and "Zach" became more normal as the film progressed.One thing puzzled me. How did Zach know which prison to wait for Mary and when she would be returning there especially as she and her relatives had not given him its address.The ending was rather sappy but presumably done to cheer up war time audiences.Also I do wish directors would insist on actors carrying a full suitcase as an empty one is obvious when someone attempts to pick it up, i.e. Mary's initial arrival at her Aunt & Uncle's house.This fault in leaving home scenes still persists in todays soaps/films, despite cinema verite.