SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY
US, 1946, 94 minutes, Black and white.
Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, William Bendix, Cedric Hardwicke, Glenn Langan, Mischa Auer, Connie Marshall, Kurt Kreuger. Directed by Walter Lang.
Sentimental Journey lives tip to its title. It is a sentimental story of a New York actress, her terminal illness and death, her distraught producer husband, the little girl that they have adopted and who is to look after the husband after the actress's death.
The film stars are Maureen O'Hara and John Payne (together in To The Shores of Tripoli, Miracle on 34th. Street, Tripoli). The supporting cast includes the is the genial William Bendix and Cedric Hardwicke as a doctor. Connie Marshall little girl. The film was directed by Walter Lang, direct or of many musicals at 20th Century Fox in the early '40s and director of such films as Call Me Madam, There's No Business Like Show Business, Desk Set, Can Can.
The film was remade in the mid-'50s as The Gift of Love with Lauren Bacall and Robert Stack as well as made into a telemovie with Jaclyn Smith and David Dukes.
1. Sentimental human story? Emotional appeal?
2. Black and white photography, musical score, the theme?
3. The credibility of the plot - characters, interactions, the sentimental ghost story?
4. The portrait of Julie: the opening, with her husband, audiences misjudging the rehearsal, her love for Bill, her skill in acting, her guests, reputation, the collapse? The doctor and the truth? Bill and her love for him, the play and the rehearsals? The walk along the beach? Meeting Hitty? The interaction, the desire for adopting a daughter? The talks with Bill, the visit to the orphanage, the adopting, the test situation, the outing, the zoo, loving Hitty, thinking that she would have to let her go? The dilemma of her love for Hitty and her love for Bill? Her dying, asking Hitty to look after Bill? Appearing to her after her death?
5. Bill, his Broadway skills, devoted to his wife, busy, success, the question of adoption, the outings with Hitty, being devastated at Julie's death, the grief in the cemetery, with Donnelly, the recluse, the clashes with Hitty, wanting to send her to school, the outing and his friends, the music, the outburst? Donnelly and his attempts to help? Finally accepting Julie's death and accepting Hitty?
6. Hitty as orphan, on the beach, her fantasy and the Lady of Shallot, the meeting with Julie, the interviews, her using her imagination, with Julie, the outings, the unicorn, Uncle Donnelly and his gifts, the clashes with Bill, the grief at Julie's death, the mission to look after Bill, the quest, the guests, Julie's complaint about going away to school, the dinner with billing to her, the reconciliation?
7. Donnelly, friendly type, his advice, the gifts for Hitty, sharing in the grief, at the cemetery, the party with the friends?
8. The background of the theatre, theatrical friends?
9. The orphanage, the children, the governess, Martha and her help?
11. The wedding, going to the airport to Larry, the meeting in the restaurant, Larry's children imagining their parents? The wedding, the sense of joy, Larry's parents and brother, the ordinariness of the family support, the speeches? Sidney's glowing toast to marriage?
12. The new home, settling in, Larry and Beth and their love, the memories of Peter? The rooms and unpacking? Cathy carried? Peter and his playing the cello? The photo of his father? Yet the growing trust in Larry?
13. The importance of Beth going to Russia, her photography (and seeing her portfolio earlier)? Doing something for herself? Larry and his managing? The agent arriving and Peter's resentment? Peter going to the cemetery, coming home late? Cathy and her anger with him? The make-up, the shoplifting and Larry having to rescue? His trying to cope, not telling Beth?
14. Beth's phone call and reassurance? Her return, Larry's outburst at the airport, and then starting again?
15. The mother-in-law and her illness, Jo wanting him to go? His joy at seeing his children, sharing with them? The bonds with Jo, the memories? The important talk with his mother-in-law, the friendship, her dying? The scattering of her ashes over the water? The final night, the possibility of reuniting with Jo? The audience not sure?
16. The sketch of the mother-in-law, her strength, her ambitions for her daughter, probably aiming too high and spoiling her daughter? The pathos of her death?
17. Larry's return, the tension with Beth, the argument? The lovemaking and the children coming home and calling the police? Talking things through? Resolution?
18. The decision to move to the new house, the leaving, Pete putting the inscription in the house? The bonds to start a new life? A future?
19.. The realistic or unrealistic treatment of characters and themes? The style of film for involving audiences and their understanding of characters? Situations?
