This romance classic is truly enjoyable to watch. Joan Fontaine and Joseph Cotten play American passengers in Europe who miss their flight home-- a flight that crashes and kills all on board. They decide to take advantage of the opportunity to start a new life together under new identities, free of commitments back home. Of course, we start to wonder what will happen when September ends. When October and their rest of their life together is put to the test.Hal Wallis produced this lavish what-if that showcases several Italian locations. And Walter Huston recorded the film's theme song, which became a hit. Speaking of Huston, if you enjoy this type of film, you may want to check out DODSWORTH, an earlier story where he played a role not unlike Cotten's.

I like both Joseph Cotton and Joan Fontaine and happened to pick up a VHS copy of this film (beautifully transferred). It is excellent on all accounts: well produced; sumptuously photographed; literate; well-acted; and moving. The story line is wildly romantic but keeps within the bounds of possibility, and Fontaine and Cotton are the perfect pair to play these mature lovers-- they're both subtle actors who manage to convey (especially Fontaine) the sub- text that lies beneath the situation in which the two find themselves. Jessica Tandy is also excellent. The location scenes filmed in Florence and Rome, while commonplace now, were not back in 1950, so it's a treat to see them here, with the cast actually roaming the streets of the two cities. Without giving the plot away, suffice it to say that the ending satisfies in a way that is believable as the story progresses. The beautiful "September Song" serves as a romantic motif throughout the film and is sung/played several times.

All the comments about this film are favorable except for Mr. Neil Doyle's. I wonder what grumpy pill he took when he watched this or maybe he just isn't a romantic guy. Not one person said his review was "helpful."This film is well-acted, scripted, and an interesting premise. The music is fabulous and the setting great. Like another reviewer said, Joan Fontaine's facial expressions say as much or more than the words she was given to speak. She is one excellent actress and Joseph Cotten is a veteran actor who once again turns in a fabulous performance.I unconditionally recommend this movie to all classic movie lovers to fans of Joan Fontaine and/or Joseph Cotten and to all romantics everywhere.

Joseph Cotten doesn't seem to be the first name that comes to mind for a love story.This one, like many after it, starts with two people meeting on an airplane. The switch from small talk to "lets spend the next two hours together" is a bit hasty. As always, Italy looks beautiful (even in black & white). I couldn't imagine anybody wanting a "friend" who knocks down everything as Joan's Maria. Kinda too much like a tourist publicity at times, the titles of the cities not helping.SPOILER AHEAD: I don't know of they couldn't have stayed together, but I sure didn't like her stating the reasons at the airport gate. The name does hint it's not going to last.PS (non-spoiler) On the plane to New York he asks the man next to her if they could switch seats and he declines. How about she exchanging seats with the woman next to him?