LYDIA

US, 1941, 104 minutes, Black and white.
Merle Oberon, Joseph Cotten, Alan Marshal, Edna May Oliver, George Reeves, John Halliday, Sara Allgood.
Directed by Julien Duvivier.

Lydia is an attractive romance with comic touches directed by Julien Duvivier who had already directed this story in France in the '30s as Un Carnet de Bal. The film is nicely adapted to the United States of 1940.

The focus is on the elderly Lydia, a philanthropist who has lived with an unfulfilled romance. She encounters one of her old suitors who invites the others to a reunion. She reminisces and the flashbacks give an opportunity for Merle Oberon, Joseph Cotten, George Reeves to make an impact with their charm and style.

Richard, the man she loved, is present in the stories (Alan Marshal) but comes to the reunion ~ not recognising Lydia. She realises the futility of her romance. There is excellent support from Edna May Oliver as her rough and ready grandmother.

The film is romantic, nostalgic, rueful. It is certainly of its period but is still entertaining. The production was by Alexander Korda who was married to Merle Oberon.

1. An enjoyable film? Portraits of characters? Romance? Regrets?

2. The production values: the strength of the cast? Sir Alexander Korda's films and his work in the United States? The sensitivity of the French director (working on his original material)? Black and white photography, the atmosphere of the '40s, the of the turn of the century and the early 20th century? American society? The romantic musical score?

3. The portrait of Lydia? Merle Oberon's presence and charm? As the elderly Lydia? As the young and romantic Lydia? The opening with her philanthropy? The monument to her generosity? The encounter with Michael, the reunion and her enjoying it? Her not having married - and her memories, the chronological development of her memories, the encounter with her beaux? The unrequited love for Richard? The wilful young girl, the end of the 19th. century, her guardianship from her grandmother, their verbal clashes - with rough and ready humour? Going to the ball and the daring dress? The encounter with Michael? With ball, the romance, the encounter with Bob, the football match? Her wanting to get married, the absence of the celebrant? Bob and his drinking? Her genial memory of this? The encounter with Frank, his music, his blindness, the elevated romance, his music capturing her moods? Her encounter with Michael, affection for him, going to the restaurant, the farewell to the Cuban war? The encounter with Johnny, his blindness, his angry mother? Her stubbornness and deciding to help the blind? Setting up the home - with Johnny's mother? Michael's visit? The chance encounter with Richard, the second meeting? The romance, sailing, the holiday home? His sailing away, his letter? His being lost in the storm? her pining for him? The possibility of marrying Michael? Her grandmother, forcefulness, death? Her giving herself to her work? Memories of Richard? The effect on her? Her decision not to marry? Giving herself to charity? Reminiscing in old age? Richard's arrival, his not recognising her, the discussion with Michael, and her rueful regrets? An interesting portrait?

4. The men in Lydia's life? Michael as the young doctor, son of the butler? Good friend? Looking after Lydia's grandmother? Going to the ball, always there to talk to, in the background, giving good advice, the outing before the war, the farewell? Admiring her work? His doctor's support? The possibility of marriage, setting the date, her moving away? A genial old man? Still supporting Lydia and devoted to her? Bob: the footballer, his achievement, dancing, his going to marry her, the marriage not happening, his drinking, her moving away from him? The enthusiastic elderly man, his nightclub and being a bouncer? Devotion to Lydia? Frank and his music, romanticising Lydia, his music, helping with the blind children, his compositions for her? Richard: the chance encounters, suave. attracted, romantic, shared experiences, the holiday home, the boat? His letter and the fare well? The other woman? His never returning? His not recognising her?

5. Lydia's comment that each of them had their own image of Lydia - not the real Lydia?

6. Edna May Oliver's enjoyable performance as the gruff and down-to-earth grandmother? Attacking Lydia?. Worried about her health? Friendly with Michael? With his father? Anti-snobs? The enthusiasm about the wedding? Her sudden death - good-spiritedly?

7. Michael's father, his role as the butler, his place downstairs, the difficulty of dining upstairs?

8. The blind, Johnny, his cranky mother, her working with Lydia? The help for the blind children, their listening to the music with Frank? The importance of this charity? American style?

9. Period romance? Serious? Comic?