This "woman's picture" is an attempt to cash in on the success of Mrs. Miniver. They even hired Walter Pigeon as the hopelessly unworldly writer of school text books. This man is so out of touch with reality that he quotes poetry in the local pub! His holier than thou demeanor and constantly airing his superior education before the common folk set him up for his subsequent comeuppance.
Possible Spoilers ahead:
The story is a weepy about the upheaval and disruption caused to the residents of a small English village at the outbreak of WWII. A gentle young man living with his elderly mother is called off to war leaving her alone. A not quite socially acceptable young woman, beautifully played by a young Janet Leigh, is involved with a young man whose father has sacrificed everything in order for his son to rise in the world. The religiously affiliated book publishers are more concerned with their reputation than concern for their fellow men. The young woman in need is turned out by her bible thumping God fearing bigoted father. The writer has married a rather catty snob on the rebound from his real love; although, with Deborah Kerr's excruciating clipped British accent he would have to be deaf to live with it. Good intentions go awry and gossip ruins lives. In a quiet way, this is an anti war film. Young men go to war and don't come back. The lives of those left behind are ruined, but everyone still swallows hard and does his bit.
Possible Spoilers ahead:
The story is a weepy about the upheaval and disruption caused to the residents of a small English village at the outbreak of WWII. A gentle young man living with his elderly mother is called off to war leaving her alone. A not quite socially acceptable young woman, beautifully played by a young Janet Leigh, is involved with a young man whose father has sacrificed everything in order for his son to rise in the world. The religiously affiliated book publishers are more concerned with their reputation than concern for their fellow men. The young woman in need is turned out by her bible thumping God fearing bigoted father. The writer has married a rather catty snob on the rebound from his real love; although, with Deborah Kerr's excruciating clipped British accent he would have to be deaf to live with it. Good intentions go awry and gossip ruins lives. In a quiet way, this is an anti war film. Young men go to war and don't come back. The lives of those left behind are ruined, but everyone still swallows hard and does his bit.