I’LL BE SEEING YOU

US, 1944, 85 minutes, black and white.
Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotton, Shirley Temple, Spring Byington, Tom Tully, Chill Wills, John Derek.
Directed by William Diertele.

This is a wartime romantic film. It focuses on a woman who has served three years in prison for manslaughter. It also focuses on a soldier returning from action who has neuro-psychiatric disorder. I applied by ginger Rogers and Joseph cotton. ginger Rogers gives a particularly touching performance.

The action takes place over the Christmas. Ginger Rogers as has been released for a 10 day leave. She meets Joseph cotton on a train. They exchange phone numbers. He contacts her and comes to a meal with her family.

The mother is played by Spring Byington, the father by Tom Tully. Shirley Temple is their 17 year old daughter. It is one of the few adult roles for Shirley Temple. Very popular as a little girl, she entered into politics and diplomacy in adulthood.

The title comes from a very popular song of the time, which was used 30 plus years later to great effect in the war story, Yanks.

The film is particularly emotional, important for the war efforts and morale of the time, and it is still a pleasant film now.

1. A film of the 1940s? The war atmosphere? Morale-boosting?

2. An offbeat romance? Sentiment, sentimentality?

3. The California settings, the small town, training, homes, the dance, diners? The American atmosphere?

4. The title, the popular song, its use?

5. Plausibility of the plot? Zach and he his neuro-psychiatric illness? His war experience? Mary, her life story, the sexual attack, the defending herself, going to prison, manslaughter?

6. The introduction to the two characters, in the railway station, buying magazines, Zach forgetting? In the train, reading, the empty seats, the sailor, the children, the crowds?

7. The two lies? The truth, Zach telling the truth, Mary not? The shock effect when Zach found out?

8. Mary’s story, not telling it to Zach? Will the flashbacks from she told her story to Barbara, the boss, her buying the dress, alone, the attack, the accidental death? Trial? Manslaughter? Her good behavior in prison? Her 10 day leave? Aunt Sarah and her welcoming her? Uncle Harry, genial? Barbara, 17, curious, cautious, her off Andy and Mary, apologising? The sharing the room, cupboards, her change of attitude?

9. Zach, the phone call? His coming to dinner, the welcome, enjoying the meal, the conversation, the grace, the carol? A form of therapy for him? Going out with Mary? The diner, the veteran and his story, Zach’s strong reaction? His upset, throwing the stone, leaving Mary? The phone call, the visit to the lake, his apology, explanation? Her sympathetic listening? Going to the dance? His hopes, the relapse in his room, his recovery, his almost proposing to Mary, his hearing the truth from Barbara? His leaving, his abruptness at the railway station?

10. Mary, not telling her story, her aunt’s advice? The diner, listening to the veteran and his story? Throwing the stone? The dance, her joy? Her caution in not telling Zach the truth?

11. Sarah, her homeliness, niceness, advice? Henry, the grace, the carols, the dance? The family welcoming Zach?

12. Barbara, her age, not knowing the truth, talking with Mary, regrets and her hurting her? Telling the truth to Zach, her regrets, Mary’s sadness and forgiving her?

13. Mary and her disappointment at the train, her going to jail, Zach waiting for her? The happy ending?

14. A film for the 1940s, the war? The sense of realism, morale forl the armed forces? The impact now?