There's no doubt in your mind that when pretty schoolteacher Margaret Sullavan gets on a train and off again that she's soon to become reporter James Stewart's bride. He's a rising star on his paper, and when they first settle down, everything is fine. But she's bitten by the acting bug thanks to their movie actor pal (Ray Milland) and ends up becoming a hit on the stage. He's sent to Rome and she decides to remain behind. But when the news hits that she's had a baby, he comes rushing home and looses his job. By this time, they are practically strangers, even though they are new parents. Sullavan intervenes on Stewart's behalf in his career, and this leads to situations which threaten to separate them even more.
This is a likable drama that suffers from a lack of light-hearted moments to retain consistent interest. One moment stands out when Stewart visits Sullavan backstage just as she is about to go on. He doesn't understand the bad timing and keeps talking to her in a distractive way just as she is about to make her entrance. It is one of those oh-so-uncomfortable moments to watch (because you can just imagine it happening) that makes his character annoying, but real. It is at this moment that you realize that these two may be in love but have nothing really in common, and you wonder, "How can this love survive?"
Obvious other than the lack of humor is the lack of familiar character performers. Of the rather small cast, only Grant Mitchell is recognizable, the others very obscure, mostly from bit parts in other films but given larger ones here. Anna Demetrio, as the big-hearted Italian landlady, stands out amongst them. This is the type of film that I really wanted to like a lot more but just couldn't feel emotion for. The team of Stewart and Sullavan would do a lot better in their two 1940 MGM releases together, "The Mortal Storm" and "The Shop Around the Corner".
This is a likable drama that suffers from a lack of light-hearted moments to retain consistent interest. One moment stands out when Stewart visits Sullavan backstage just as she is about to go on. He doesn't understand the bad timing and keeps talking to her in a distractive way just as she is about to make her entrance. It is one of those oh-so-uncomfortable moments to watch (because you can just imagine it happening) that makes his character annoying, but real. It is at this moment that you realize that these two may be in love but have nothing really in common, and you wonder, "How can this love survive?"
Obvious other than the lack of humor is the lack of familiar character performers. Of the rather small cast, only Grant Mitchell is recognizable, the others very obscure, mostly from bit parts in other films but given larger ones here. Anna Demetrio, as the big-hearted Italian landlady, stands out amongst them. This is the type of film that I really wanted to like a lot more but just couldn't feel emotion for. The team of Stewart and Sullavan would do a lot better in their two 1940 MGM releases together, "The Mortal Storm" and "The Shop Around the Corner".