TILL THE END OF TIME
US, 1946,105 minutes, Black and white.
Dorothy McGuire?, Guy Madison, Robert Mitchum.
Directed by Edward Dmytryk.
Till the End of Time was released at the same period as The Best Years of Our Lives. It is a smaller scale reworking of the same theme: the return of three servicemen to ordinary life and the difficulties in rehabilitation after World War Two. The film was directed by Edward Dmytryk. at a period when he was directing very effective small-budget dramas and thrillers e.g. Crossfire, Cornered. (He was then indicted as one of the Hollywood Ten and returned in the mid-'50s to make a wide range of very popular big-budget films). The film has a good cast led by Dorothy McGuire?. The lead, Guy Madison, did not have a career that matched hopes at the time. The supporting lead, Robert Mitchum, of course, was more successful. The film has an adaptation of a theme from Chopin with words "Till the End of Time" which recurs throughout the film. Entertaining in its way but not as good as The Best Years of Our Lives.
1. An entertaining post-war story? The return of the servicemen? The picture of Middle American cities? Rehabilitation? The waning of life, building up careers, relationships and love?
2. The impact of the film in 1946? Comparisons with The Best Years of Our Lives? The mood reflected by these films? Atmosphere, feeling? Sentiment? Popular melodramatic style? Issues? The film as a valid comment on the period in the U.S.?
3. R.K.O. production values? Studio work? Atmosphere of California in the '40s: the city, hospitals, homes, bars, workplaces? Contribution of the score ? the adaptation of Chopin and the lyrics? Recurring chorus?
4. The introduction to the men, the situation of their return, their war service. the repercussions ? physical injury, psychological? The characters of each of the three. the background of their heroics, by word only? American buddies? 3 years service, injuries and the prospects for work? The praise given to those returning, then the transition to humdrum way of life and problems?
5. The American small city, bars, jobs, study, lack of opportunity and the emphasis on profit, parents and the gaps in feeling and experience, needs and sentiment?
6. The focus on Cliff, a pleasant young man, his return? The encounter with Pat and the complexities of their relationship? Her memories of her husband? Bill and the plate in his head, his wandering? Perry and his inability to face his crippled state? Helen and relationships, flirting? Jobs, relaxation, having to face up to realities, angers, crises? Cliff and his antagonism towards Pat, feeling he was deceived by her, attacking her? The fight? The true love and the future?
7. Pat and her going to the bar, her experience of being a widow, memory of her husband. falling in love with Cliff? His attack on her as a tramp? Her true character, her not telling him the truth, his discovering it for himself? The musical theme in relationship to her?
8. Bill and his wandering, the plate, friendship, gambling. refusal to go to hospital?
9. Perry and his relationship with his mother, his experience of boxing, disappointment? His becoming involved with training and the possibility of rehabilitation?
10. The sketch of the parents, their hopes, concern but inability to understand?
11. The background of military concern for ex-servicemen, medical help available?
12. The electrician and the fight?
13. The atmosphere of the bar? The questions of bigots and antagonism towards the war effort? The film taking sides?
14. The picture of a period, the aftermath of war? The simplicity and complexity of issues?
