Nov. 24 movie: Since You Went Away. Oh my GOD I love this movie. It's an epic melodrama about Claudette Colbert holding her family together while her husband is away at war. The ensemble cast includes Jennifer Jones and Shirley Temple as Colbert's daughters, Robert Walker as Jones' love interest, Monty Wooley as the crochety roomer they take in, Joseph Cotton as the old family friend with an unrequited love for Colbert, Hattie McDaniel as the obligatory jolly maid, and Agnes Moorehead as the selfish, hoarding neighbor.
The movie was made during the war, and it's very much a propaganda piece encouraging American families to stay brave and help the war effort. Colbert works in a munitions factory, Jones is a volunteer nurse's aide, Temple collects salvage and sells war bonds. All the principles are great, but for my money the emotional heavy lifting of the movie falls to Jennifer Jones. She has the most character growth, and the most scenes that made me reach for the kleenex. Although at three hours, there were plenty of heartwrenching scenes to go around.
And I think that's all I can take of Tearjerker Night. I have Penny Serenade on the DVR but I think I'm going to delete it. This afternoon I teared up in my car over a story on the radio about a doctor who found a treatment for rabies and saved a young girl's life. I think I need to take a break from the melodramas.
Interesting trivia I forgot to include: apparently Jennifer Jones and Robert Walker were married at the time, but their marriage was breaking up during production. In fact, according to Robert Osborne, the day after filming their heartbreaking farewell scene at the train station, Jones filed for divorce. That makes the sweetness of their on-screen romance all the more impressive.
Wow - Since You Went Away sounds great. Epic melograma with historical significance. Perfect.