SINCE YOU WENT AWAY (DVD/P&S/1944/B&W/ENG-FR-SP-SUB) DVD

Since You Went Away
David O. Selznick's first production since 1940's Rebecca, Since You Went Away, based on Margaret Buell Wilder's bestselling novel, is a long but rewarding paean to the World War 2 "home front". Claudette Colbert plays the wife of a businessman who, though well past draft age, volunteered to serve his country as an officer (though the husband is never seen, he is "played"-via a photograph-by Neil Hamilton). Fighting back her own fears and anxieties, Colbert does her best to maintain a normal, stable household for the sake of her growing daughters Jennifer Jones and Shirley Temple. She is offered moral support by cynical-but-kindly boarder Monty Woolley, by maid Hattie McDaniel (who willing foregoes her salary "for the duration") and by Navy man and friend-of-the-family Joseph Cotten, whose relationship with Claudette remains staunchly platonic. The harsh realities of war hit home several times throughout the film, first when it seems as though Colbert's husband is missing in action, and later when Jennifer's young boyfriend, GI Robert Walker, is killed in combat. From the vantage point of the 1990s, it is easy to see why Since You Went Away scored with its wartime audiences. Though the leading characters are slightly more financially secure than most of the moviegoers of 1944, the various vignettes presented throughout-complaints about rationing and priorities, shoulder-to-shoulder sacrifices, the weekly escape to the local movie house, tender partings, joyous reunions, the returning wounded, the dreaded wire from the war department-all had the ring of truth and topicality. Even today, the film's emotional highlights, particularly the much-imitated farewell scene at the railroad station, are sufficient to bring tears to the eyes of the most jaded viewer. Enhancing the film's heartstring tugging tenfold is Max Steiner's Oscar-winning musical score. If you can remain objective while watching Since You Went Away (it isn't easy), see if you can spot Ruth Roman, Guy Madison and John Derek, making their screen debuts in microscopic roles ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast Claudette Colbert as Anne Hilton Jennifer Jones as Jane Hilton Joseph Cotten as Lt. Tony Willett Shirley Temple as Bridget "Brig" Hilton Agnes Moorehead as Emily Hawkins Monty Woolley as Col. Smollett Lionel Barrymore as The Clergyman Robert Walker as Cpl. William G. Smollett II Hattie McDaniel as Fidelia Jane Devlin as Gladys Brown Lloyd Corrigan as Mr. Mahoney Gordon Oliver as Marine officer Robert Anderson as Irving Bacon as Bartender Aileen Pringle as Charles Williams as Wallis Clark as Leo Mostovoy as James Carlisle as George Chandler as Cabbie Ann Gillis as Becky Anderson Grady Sutton as Ruth Valmy as Jackie Moran as Johnny Mahoney Buddy Gorman as Andrew V. McLaglen as Former Plowboy Addison Richards as Maj. Sam Atkins George Lloyd as Barbara Pepper as Pin girl Guy Madison as Harold Smith Jill Warren as Waitress Byron Foulger as Principal Harry Hayden as Conductor Edwin Maxwell as Businessman Russell Hoyt as Florence Bates as Dowager Conrad Binyon as Theodore Von Eltz as Desk clerk Adeline Reynolds as Elderly woman Robert Cherry as Kirk Barron as Jack Gardner as Doodles Weaver as Convalescent Dorothy Adams as James Westerfield as Warren Hymer as Patient at Finger Ladder Ralph Reed as Peggy Maley as Rob Johnson as Black Officer Shelby Bacon as Eddie Hall as Salior On Phone In Train Station Eilene Janssen as Little girl Harlan Miller as Neyle Marx as Johnny Bond as AWOL Ruth Roman as Bit Part Steve Wayne as Marilyn Hare as Jonathan Hale as Conductor Walter S. Baldwin as Eric Sinclair as Craig Stevens as Danny Williams Albert Basserman as Dr. Sigmund Gottlieb Golden Jimmy Clemons as Boy Caroler Keenan Wynn as Lt. Solomon Rhonda Fleming as Bit Part

Crew Charles Walters - Choreography Elmer Ellsworth - Costume Designer Lowell J. Farrell - First Assistant Director John Cromwell - Director Arthur Fellows - Editor Don de Faure - Editor James Newcom - Editor Wayland M. Hendrys - Editor Hal Kern - Editor Louis Forbes - Composer (Music Score) Max Steiner - Composer (Music Score) Robert Stephanoff - Makeup William L. Pereira - Production Designer Mark-Lee Kirk - Production Designer Jack Cosgrove - Cinematographer Clarence Silver - Cinematographer Lee Garmes - Cinematographer Stanley Cortez - Cinematographer David O. Selznick - Producer Victor A. Gangelin - Set Designer Mark-Lee Kirk - Set Designer Clarence Slifer - Special Effects Jack Cosgrove - Special Effects Navy Capt. Charles L. Freeman - Sound/Sound Designer David O. Selznick - Screenwriter Margaret Buell Wilder - Book Author

Since You Went Away
Although much of Since You Went Away could be considered soap opera, with moments definitely designed to manipulatively tug at the heartstrings, it's such an engrossing and affecting film that most viewers will forgive it for being calculating. What's surprising is how much power the film still packs, even its most famous (and much parodied) scene in which Jennifer Jones runs after the train carrying her boyfriend away, repeating "I love you, darling" over and over until the train is out of sight. Perhaps because the wartime message hit home with those involved, director John Cromwell and the cast really seem to believe in every moment of the script, even when the dialogue or situation seem somewhat clichéd. Cromwell has done an excellent job of capturing the flavor of the period (not always easy to do when the period a director is trying to capture is the same one in which he is living), as well as making the project seem warm and comforting, even at its most dramatic. He is blessed with a solid cast, especially leading lady Claudette Colbert, who anchors the film with her assured performance. Monty Woolley, Agnes Moorehead, Joseph Cotton and Hattie McDaniel turn in the expected good performances, and Jennifer Jones is surprisingly good, not only in her several "big" scenes but in her quieter moments as well. While it's overlong and suffers a bit from its propagandistic purposes, Since You Went Away still offers a great many rewards. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
 

Arthur Johns: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Special Effects (nominated) Claudette Colbert: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Actress (nominated) Hal Kern: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Editing (nominated) James Newcom: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Editing (nominated) Jennifer Jones: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Supporting Actress (nominated) Lee Garmes: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Black and White Cinematography (nominated) Mark-Lee Kirk: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Black and White Art Direction (nominated) Max Steiner: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Score - Drama or Comedy (winner) Monty Woolley: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (nominated) Stanley Cortez: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Black and White Cinematography (nominated) Victor A. Gangelin: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Black and White Art Direction (nominated)

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Picture (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: DD1: Dolby Digital Mono Additional Features: none specified DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1: Pre-1954 Standard MPAA Rating: NR DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 177 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 1. Overture/Main Title [10:43] 2. Downsized [11:08] 3. The Best Room [11:59] 4. Uncle Tony [10:19] 5. "A Great Big Prom" [9:55] 6. Together [11:49] 7. Going Away Present [11:29] 8. A Real Date [10:24] 9. Other People's Business [10:53] 10. MIA/Entr'acte [12:12] 11. Message of Comfort [1:26] 12. A Wonderful Afternoon [8:41] 13. A Soldier's Death [10:58] 14. Happy Birthday [10:59] 15. A Good Telling Off [10:30] 16. The Best Christmas [3:13]