JOURNEY FOR MARGARET

US, 1942, 81 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Young, Laraine Day, Margaret O ' Brien, Billy Severn, Fay Bainter, Signe Hasso, Nigel Bruce, Halliwell Hobbes.
Directed by W.S. Van Dyke.

Journey for Margaret is a piece of war propaganda. However, it stands the test of time because of its focus on the human story. It is a story of a journalist and his wife, their encounter with war orphans and the possibilities for adoption. The setting is Britain in the Blitz.

The film was directed by W.S. Van Dyke (here given his military title of Major). He was a veteran of many films at MGM, ranging from Jeanette Mac Donald Nelson Eddy musicals to Thin Man films.

Robert Young is a genial star. However, it was the first major film for the young Margaret O'Brien and she makes a confident impact - even with her famous capacity for being able to weep on cue (which she does here).

A slight film now, but a memory of World War Two - and a perennial human drama.

1. War propaganda? Human story? The impact of the Blitz, war orphans? New life in America?

2. MGM production values, re-creation of England, stars? Musical score?

3. The title, the focus on Margaret and the orphans?

4. John Davis and Nora, their work in the war? Arriving in England? The situation? The Blitz? Nora and her pregnancy, the loss of the child? The depression? Return to America? John and his work, the reports? The encounter with Peter amongst the rubble? The other war orphans? With Miss Strauss? Seeing the orphans, playing with them? Finding Margaret? Taking them to the English couple and their playing up? Their friends and concern, for his adopting a child? With Miss Strauss, with the people at the office? His plan for taking the children back to the United States, the importance of weight and luggage, his pleas to the various people to take the children? The decision to take Margaret? The journey, the woman who brought Peter? The reconciliation, the journey to America, meeting Nora? The future?

5. Peter and Margaret, typical of the orphans? In the home? Emotional difficulties? Treating the children? Their attachments, to John? To Miss Strauss? The failure of the outing to the English couple? The preparations for the journey? Peter as precocious, as a playful child, the separation? Margaret, her tears - and wanting to cry and her being forbidden? Her bomb? Attachment to John? The journey to America? With Nora?

6. Miss Strauss, the orphanage, her tact with the children? Her eye on potential parents?

7. The newspaper office, John and his friends, their support? Concern about family?

8. The war, suffering, orphans? The possibilities for new lives? The generosity of parents? The perennial values of this kind of film?