SO WELL REMEMBERED
UK, 1947, 140 minutes, Black-and-white.
John Mills, Martha Scott, Patricia Roc, Trevor Howard, Richard Carlson, Reginald Tate, Beatrice Varley, Frederick Leister.
Directed by Edward Dmytryk.
So Well Remembered is based on a novel by James Hilton, very popular at the time and with film versions of his Lost Horizon, Goodbye Mr Chips, Random Harvest. He narrates this film throughout.
The film opens on V-Day?, 8th May 1945. There are celebrations in a Lancashire town with a focus of attention on John Mills playing George Boswell who had a significant role in the history of the town. The screenplay then goes into flashback, back to 1919, to council meetings, to George making a played for a young woman, Olivia (Martha Scott, American actress who appeared in Our Town – and play Charlton Heston’s mother in The Ten Commandments as well as Ben Hur). She has made an application to work in the library but has to stand down because of hostility to her father, an industrialist who built exploitative slums in the town and has served 20 years in prison.
George also edits the local paper and is concerned about social issues, having grown up in the slums. He courts Olivia, marries her and they have a son. She is socially ambitious and urges George to stand for Westminster politics. However, he is more concerned about local issues which come to a head with an outbreak of diphtheria, Olivia taking her son for vaccination but, disliking ordinary people, leaves beforehand – and the boy later dies. This leads to Olivia walking out on George.
As the years go by, George becomes an alderman, continues his strong friendship with the local doctor, Trevor Howard, who is socially concerned but is also an alcoholic. He has also become the foster father of a young baby (Juliet Mills as the baby) and Patricia Roc as the grown woman.
There is a final complication when Olivia returns to the town, takes over the mills, is confronted by George, and is very possessive of her son who suffers facial injuries in the war. He and Julie are married.
This is a fine example of British filmmaking in the postwar period, interesting plot, social concerns, a reflection on the previous quarter of a century. It has very good performances – and was produced by Adrian Scott and directed by Edward Dmytryk just prior to their being named as part of the Hollywood Ten and going to prison for Communist activities.
1. As a good example of cinema in postwar Britain? Quality, history, society, values?
2. Based on a novel by James Hilton? His reputation and other novels, film versions? His doing the narration throughout this film?
3. The Lancashire settings, the industrial town, local officials and meetings, the newspaper and the press, the wealthy mansion, the poor and their conditions, the slums, health issues? The musical score?
4. V Day in Europe, 8 May 1945? The framework for the story? The focus on George, his story, his perspective, on the town, characters?
5. The action going back quarter of a century, 1919? The status of the town, industry, industrialised, workers being exploited? The meetings, the issue of the librarian, George and his role with the newspaper, his speeches at the meeting, the social concern? The industrialist, his being in prison? Issues of reform, political influence, local campaigns?
6. The portrait of George, at the meetings, his pleading for Olivia and her job, the comment on her trim figure and the reactions? Driving her home? The encounter with her father, his reputation, George talking with him? Olivia getting the job? The two together, the outings, the proposal? The situation with her father, the doctor and his friendship, the drive, her father’s death? His standing in the library at the window? Accepting George’s proposal, George being happy?
7. The complexity of Olivia’s character, the influence of her father, his crimes, years in prison? Her determination? Her plans, social climbing, ambitions, her spurning ordinary people? Her marrying George, happiness, going to London, society meetings, political meetings, her contacts? The pregnancy, the birth of their son? Her pushing George towards politics?
8. George, visits to London, meeting the politicians, the discussions about Lancashire concerns, his agreeing to campaign, his variety of speeches, his concerns, criticism of the establishment, the doctor and his plain?
9. The outbreak of diphtheria, the importance of vaccination? The poor, the children being vaccinated, the long lines? Olivia coming at George’s urging, not liking the people, the dirt, her taking the baby away, no vaccination? His later getting ill, his death?
10. Olivia growing away from George, his not fulfilling her hopes? Hopes for a comfortable life, for her son? The impact of his death? The decision to leave?
11. The maid, Annie, tough, George relying on her, exasperated with Olivia, deciding to leave, Olivia leaving and Annie staying? Over the years?
12. The doctor, his work in the town, his drinking? His exploration of plans for the poor, changing the slums? Olivia and her reaction, his having driven her father? The little girl, the doctor fostering her? George as his friend? George defying the politicians and criticising their self-serving plans?
13. The years passing, George and his life, politics, becoming an alderman, helping everyone in the town? The paper? His friendship with the doctor, Julie and her growing up, the coming of the war, her enlisting?
14. The war situation, the north of England, not experiencing the blitzes? Juliet, nursing, helping with the troops?
15. Charles, his drinking, the encounter with George, his being rude? Coming next day, the apology? The encounter with Juliet?
16. Charles in service, and wounded, injured in his face? In hospital, Juliet caring for him? His mother and her visits? Olivia taking over? The effect on Charles, her domination?
17. George and the meeting with Olivia, not as difficult as he might have expected? Her life, in the mansion, the meals, her ownership, the poor conditions, her spurning ordinary people, downplaying their work in the war, her self-focus, Charles and her hopes? His reaction to her, going home, and happy? Charles eventually defying his mother, with the marriage certificate?
18. The industrial conditions, war situations, the threat of strike, George and his deal with Olivia?
19. The marrying, the future for Charles and Julie? George shielding them? Olivia and the ruining of her plans?
20. George, 1945, his remembering? A story of Britain between the wars? The victory against the Nazis? Hopes for a new and better England? As seen in retrospect?
