OUR VERY OWN
US, 1950, 93 minutes, Black and white.
Ann Blyth, Farley Granger, Joan Evans, Jane Wyatt, Ann Dvorak, Donald Cook, Natalie Wood, Phyllis Kirk.
Directed by David Miller.
Our Very Own is one of several Samuel Goldwyn productions of the late '40s and early '50s which focus on American domestic life: My Foolish Heart, I Want You. This film focuses on the ideal American family and the upset when the eldest daughter discovers that she is adopted. The parents have to cope, there is a spiteful sister. In the vein of optimism, all things are resolved happily. Nowadays this would be the essence of a telemovie or the material for a television series. It is a pleasing emotional melodrama which touches on its topics and asks for an emotional response. Ann Blyth is the focus of the problems. Natalie Wood appears as her youngest sister. The direction is by David Miller (films from the '40s to the '70s including Billy the Kid, Sudden Fear, Lonely Are The Brave). The screenplay was written by playwright and comedian F. Hugh Herbert (The Moon is Blue).
1. An interesting and entertaining emotional drama? Melodrama?
2. Samuel Goldwyn productions: black and white photography, California, 1950? The Victor Young score?
3. The portrait of American family life, detail, the disruption and its consequences, the, resolution of problems?
4. The mythical ideal small town family, middle class and affluent, struck by problems, resolving them?
5. The focus on adoption: as a fact, as a decision for parents, telling or not telling the adopted child, the other children? Knowledge of adoption, rights? Psychological repercussions? Change in attitudes?
6. The McAuleys: the parents, their relationship, the quality of their marriage, lifestyle? Gail, Joan and Penny? Love for each other, jealousies and consequences?
7. The focus on Gail as heroine? Her place in the family, the oldest daughter, the preparation for her birthday party? Her love for Chuck? Joan and her jealousy? The party, Joan's attitude and behaviour, the clash, her telling the truth to Gail? The parents trying to cope? The shock for Gail, reacting badly? Feeling unloved? Wanting to visit her natural mother, her parents providing the opportunity, seeing her natural mother in her surroundings? Disappointment? Her friendship with Zaza, Zaza and her persuasiveness about marriage, family love? Her graduation speech and her tribute to her parents and to families?
8. Joan and her place in the family, her rivalry with Gail, spitefulness, tantrums? Her hurting Gail? Reconciliation?
9. Chuck as the boy next door, his relationship with Gail, the party, affected by Gail's reaction?
10. The portrait of the Mc Auleys and their love, their hurt? Gail as 'our very own'? The contrast with Mrs Lynch, her friends, the other side of the tracks?
11. Mrs. Lynch, the birth of her daughter, the adoption, the reality of her life and style, her response to Gail?
12. Zaza and her friendship, experience and advice? Influence on Gail?
13. The speech, its content and style?
14. The film as a tribute to parents and American family life? Exploring social situations through emotional dramas?
