This terrific little gem of a drama puts forth the idea that we all "settle" in life, for a life (or person) more "stable" or, at least, more comfortable (e.g. per our upbringing). Though we may passionately believe we want that something (or someone) else, for practical reasons (or other circumstances) we'll accept "less". We may even hold onto an old dream, which we've romanticized about to the point that all the negatives are gone and only the positives remain in our memories, such that we believe it can still be made to work ... only to find that the moment has passed, we've changed, and/or the "air is out of the balloon":Such was the relationship portrayed between the staid title character, played by Robert Young, and a businesswoman, whose character was intentionally given the male name of Marvin, but is played by the decidedly unmasculine Hedy Lamarr. Though Pulham was raised to marry a woman like Kay (Ruth Hussey), whom he eventually does, he spends his early years in the advertising business pursuing co-worker (and artist?) Marvin, who's a bit too "modern" for his conservative family's values.The story is told in flashback, with Pulham examining his life while writing his Harvard class biography. Coincidentally, he's just gotten a call from Marvin, who's also married and just wants to meet for drinks after all these years.Produced and directed by King Vidor (who co-wrote the screenplay, based on the John Marquand novel with his wife Elizabeth Hill), the cast is excellent and includes Charles Coburn as Young's father, Van Heflin as his longtime friend, classmate and business associate, Fay Holden as his mother, Bonita Granville as his sister, Douglas Wood as his boss, and Sara Haden as his secretary. Charles Halton plays a client of the ad agency, Leif Erickson a football playing friend of Pulham's, and Anne Revere (uncredited) his father's secretary. Frank Faylen, Byron Foulger, Ava Gardner (her second film), Connie Gilchrist, and Grant Withers also appear uncredited.

Robert Young plays a man who comes from the cream of Boston society. His life is very organized and proper--yet there is a short period of his life where he is able to be his own person. After graduating from Harvard (naturally), he does a brief stint with a company in New York--where he comes in contact with normal folks and Young is just a normal guy. In the process, he meets lovely Hedy Lamar--a very bright and capable working woman. While she is intellectually his equal and a heck of a catch (not just because of her looks), you can tell that Young is head-over-heels for her BUT also a bit ashamed of her ordinary immigrant roots. While their romance is blooming, you always have the impression that Young is not willing to let go of his obligations and sense of what is proper and expected. So, when he later brings Lamar home to meet his family, he doesn't introduce her as his sweetheart, but a co-worker! Young later announces that he wants to marry her and bring her to live in his ancestral home--and she rejects him, as she likes to work and doesn't want to live in such a rigid life. Much of the film consists of flashbacks, as an older and regretful Young looks back at this love that was never to be. It also follows him as he marries a woman that he 'ought to' but for which he never felt any passion. They are content but never in love.This film is interesting because it's not just a romance but more of a portrait of a man--the romantic and mundane aspects as well. Not surprisingly, Robert Young does his usual wonderful job in the film. But who really impressed me was Hedy Lamar. In many other films she made she just seemed like a very pretty lady and nothing more. Here, she is not just radiant but does a fine job acting. Plus, her slight accent (after all, she was a Czech) worked in this film because she was supposed to be a child of immigrants--too often in films she was supposed to be an ordinary American but the accent didn't fit.Overall, this is a sad,...no, more of a wistful film about a man whose sense of duty seriously impairs his life. And, as a result, it's an interesting case of what might have been. And, it's also interesting seeing what happens when, after 20 years, the two meet once again and contemplate resuming their romance. Fascinating and different--and I adored the film's ending. By the way, in some ways this film's theme is a lot like that in "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg"---a magnificent film.

Right from the beginning, one might mistake this film for a comedy. In fact, the artistic opening sequences make H. M. Pulham (Robert Young) out to be a rather eccentric man. But as the film goes on, we learn that his is a complex and likable man with a life relateable to anyone at anytime. He is notified of a Harvard class reunion and for the event, he must write a personal biography. Writing it turns out to be difficult, and we journey through memories in search of the ones to include.As a young boy, Pulham was brought up in a highly educated and somewhat rigid environment. His mother (Fay Holden), father (Charles Coburn), and sister (Bonita Granville) loved him and accepted his friends willingly, especially Bill King (Van Heflin). They even arranged for a girl to be nearby at all times (Ruth Hussey); he even eventually married her. However, the one aspect of his life that was not planned was his love affair with an advertiser named Marvin (Hedy Lamarr). Thinking about her brings back all of the passion they had for each other, and he begins to wonder why they never ended up together when they were in love.This movie is sentimental and entertaining. Each of the actors is excellent in his part, especially Lamarr who exercises a new part of her personality. In most of her films, she plays a seductive and somewhat distant woman. Here, she is warm and inviting, much more like an ideal wife and mother. One could easily imagine her sitting by the fire mending socks or cooking over a hot stove and all the while remaining radiantly beautiful.

This movie is very thought provoking about how life is or how it could have been. It helped me appreciate life, the good and the bad, most of everyday life is actually quite good especially when we don't dwell on the could haves. It was very nostalgic for me. I especially liked the spontaneity as thats something we like to do as a couple, but we don't see a lot of it these days. The idea of taking a chance was a little scary for me. The romance was soft and touching, very clean. It actually gave me some ideas on how to be more romantic. It was a kick seeing Van Heflin so young and skinny. The movie really was a fantasy, but so close to the truth that it just grabbed me. Being older, the film quality was worn, some of the pan scenes were distorted. That Robert Young smile is contagious, thats how I'll remember this movie in my mind's eye.