Dir. John Cromwell – Enchanted Cottage (1945) - Comment.

 

This is the first film I have ever seen that begins with a 10 minute `Overture'; the music is excellent and the composer, Max Steiner, won the 1945 Oscar for Best Music. The film was nominated for 9 Oscars, directed by John Cromwell, (The Enchanted Cottage) and written & produced by the man himself, David O. Selznick. Selznick intended this film to reach the box office and epic movie success of `Gone with the Wind', however popular at the time and now considered one of the top twenty 40's films ever made, never reached Selznick's expectations. 

The film follows the lives of the Hunter family after Mr. Hunter leaves to go and fight in the war. Claudette Colbert in the role of Mrs. Hunter carries the film throughout the three hours but is well supported by the Hunter girls', Jane (The beautiful Jennifer Jones) and Brig (An older Shirley Temple) including a close friend of the family, Anthony Willett (Joseph Cotton). 
 

What makes this film unique for its time is its perspective of the wives and children left behind as husbands, fathers and sons went to war. 
 

The film not only includes an `Overture" but an actual Intermission, where the beautiful soundtrack continues to play in the background. 

 

The clergyman played by the regal Lionel Barrymore gives a sermon in a moving monologue representing America's Ideals of preserving liberty. Barrymore is a legend and this short speech in the film affirms his legendary status. 
 

Personally, my favorite character is the irascible Colonel Smollet (Monty Woolly) as his character is the type one never sees anymore, old-worldly, traditional, strong, and a man of principles. 
 

For some of us living in the 21st century this film may appear too sentimental and possibly `corny', but it represents America's high values: the importance of family and strength of character during war time. Values that continue to be important today as our boys continue to leave their homes and families to fight (in most cases) senseless wars. 
 

We forget that those left behind, particularly the women, fought hard to even survive and supported their respective families and the war effort in ways that should be acknowledged more than it currently is or in the past.