DESIRE ME
US, 1947, 91 minutes, Black and white.
Greer Garson, Robert Mitchum, Richard Hart, George Zucco, Morris Ankrum.
Directed by George Cukor, Melvyn Le Roy, Jack Conway (director not credited).
Desire Me is a Greer Garson vehicle of the mid-'40s. However, it had production difficulties and there is no credit for director on the film. However, it was mainly directed by George Cukor, some scenes done by Mervyn Le Roy as well as by Jack Conway.
It is a typical enough post-World War Two romance (reminiscent of Letters to an Unknown Lover which was filmed in the '80s with Cherie Lunghi and was written by the writers of Vertigo and Diabolique, .
Robert Mitchum is very stolid as the romantic lead, Richard Hart much more lively as the more villainous romantic lead. The film is set in France, echoes the French Occupation, the prison camps, people missing in action and their returning unexpectedly.
Mitchum and Garson are not the most credible couple on screen. However, the film is quite enjoyable in its old style way.
1. Entertaining MGM romantic drama? 1946? The atmosphere of World War Two and its aftermath?
2. MGM production: difficulty of directors, black and white photography, studio sets and France, coast locations? Musical score and the love theme?
3. The title - and its suggestions? In relationship to Marice, Paul, Jean?
4. The structure with Marice's grief, talking over her problems, the flashbacks, the reconciliation with Paul?
5. Greer Garson as Marice - ladylike, from Paris, the memories of her marriage to Paul, giving up her life to go with him, happy with him, his imprisonment? Her surviving the war? Jean's return, knowing all about her, attracted, wary, the memories of Paul and sense of his presence? Falling in love with Jean after being persuaded Paul was dead? The romantic sequences on the cliffs, in the house? His going away but coming back? Wanting her to leave with him, selling the boat firm? Talking things over with the priest - and his hesitation? Paul's return, meeting, Paul's suspicions? The confrontation on the cliff? Her going away - but persuaded to go back, reconciliation with Paul?
6. Paul, his background, the boat firm, in the camp, telling Jean about Marice? The attempted escape? Being wounded? Disappearance, return, expectations, severe with Marice, the confrontation with Paul on the cliff, the shots and the knife, the fight? Marice's leaving, her return - and his reconciliation with her?
7. Jean, in the camp, listening to the stories and detail about Marice and Paul's life with her? The escape attempt? His coming to the town, finding her out, knowing all about her? In love? His background? Persuading her to go, leaving and returning, the selling of the firm? Paul's letters and his concealing them? The confrontation with the priest? Going to confront Paul, the fight and his death? The comment that love for Marice was the only good thing in his life?
8. The priest, his advice and wisdom? The religious background of the town - processions, prayer etc?
9. The buyer and the selling of the firm, his giving the information about Paul's return?
10. Popular romantic ingredients - '40s style?
