Released in the US under the sappier title "I'll Never Forget You", the film is a remake of the 1933 film "Berkeley Square" starring Leslie Howard which was itself based on a 1929 Broadway play of the same name. This film sticks quite closely to the storyline of the play and the earlier film but it updated it for the 1950s. It concerns Peter Standish, played by Tyrone Power, a reserved, introspective American nuclear physicist living in London who seeks to escape to the "wonderful age" of the 18th Century. He is guilt stricken by the moral implications of his work, perhaps in particular because he worked at Los Alamos during World War II, and fears the prospect of nuclear war. As a result of a bolt of lightning, he switches places with his ancestor of the same name in 1784. While in the past, Peter falls in law with Helen Pettigrew, played by Ann Blyth, who is destined to be the elder Peter's sister-in-law. Having had access to the elder Peter's diary in 1951, the younger Peter knows many little details of the Pettigrews' lives that the elder Peter did not yet know in 1784 and, on several occasions, makes the mistake of the mentioning them. He does the same when it comes to revealing his knowledge of more general events that have not happened yet and uses expressions like "cockeyed" that did not exist in the 18th Century. This leads people to fear him and the elder Peter's would-be wife Kate to break off the engagement as he believes that he has been possessed by a demon.Power may not have been as good an actor as Howard but he does extremely well in the role of Peter, who is a more interesting and likable character in this version. In an unfortunate coincidence, both men died young. In both films, Peter gradually becomes disillusioned with life in 1784 but we get a better indication as to why here as we are shown the squalor and filth of the incredibly poor, disease ridden areas of 18th Century London where child labour was common. He establishes a laboratory in Shepherd Market where he creates rudimentary but operational versions of a lightbulb and camera. He hopes to use his scientific knowledge to better the lives of the people of 1784 but his hopes are dashed by the superstitions of the natives, almost all of whom regard him as either possessed or insane.Helen is the only person who either believes him or believes in him. Ann Blyth, who is still alive at 86, is absolutely enchanting in the role, a stronger character than her "Berkeley Square" counterpart who learns that Peter is from the future far earlier in this film. She and Power have flawless chemistry and, while the script of their final scene together is taken almost verbatim from the 1933 film, it is far more moving on this occasion. The ending of this version is even sadder.The film has a stronger supporting cast than its predecessor, including Michael Rennie as Roger Forsyth (another nuclear physicist and the only major character created for the film), an hilarious Dennis Price as the incredibly foppish Tom Pettigrew, Beatrice Campbell as Kate Pettigrew, Raymond Huntley as Mr. Throstle, Felix Aylmer as Sir William, Kathleen Byron as the Duchess of Devonshire and, reprising her role from the earlier version, Irene Browne as Lady Anne Pettigrew. Helmed by future "A Night to Remember" director and Hammer stalwart Roy Ward Baker, the film takes a page from "The Wizard of Oz"'s book in that the framing scenes set in 1951 were shot in black and white while the 1784 scenes were shot in glorious Technicolor. This is certainly to the film's advantage as, like Peter, we feel as if we have entered another world when he is transported back in time. It is also in keeping with Peter's belief that the 18th Century was a more colourful age.Overall, this is a beautiful film which is more moving and thought-provoking than "Berkeley Square". It is a remake which achieves the rare feat of being better than the original.

Fox owned this property, as it was done as Berkeley Square in 1933. In 1950, it was remade for Tyrone Power, co-starring Ann Blyth, Michael Rennie, and Dennis Price.This film, along with Marie Antoinette, were in the top ten of all films on TCM that viewers requested be put out on DVD. It finally happened with the Tyrone Power Matinée Idol set, released in 2008.Power plays Peter Standish, a scientist obsessed with the past. He knows from a diary that he is destined to go there and switch places with his ancestor of the same name, but he doesn't know how it will happen. During a thunder and lightning storm, he winds up outside his house, but it is now 18th century London. He has arrived from America to marry Kate Pettigrew, but instead falls for her sister Helen. Helen is the only person the Standish of the future knows nothing about. She was never mentioned in any of his research.Not only is 18th Century London not the peaceful, gentle place he imagined, but as he predicts certain things or knows things he shouldn't, people become frightened of him. The only one not afraid of him is Helen. Peter knows he has to go back to the future, but he wants to stay with Helen.This is a lovely fantasy about going back to the past, a subject authors have always been interested in. And, like the main character in "Paris at Midnight," the past isn't all it was cracked up to be.The present in this film is in black and white, and the future is in god-awful color - this film is not restored. Power looks terrific in black and white, and I have seen him in color many, many times, and he always looked fantastic. However, in this film, he looks pasty - that may have been a deliberate choice because he's not really of the time, as Ann Blyth looks very beautiful. Power had to shave two or three times a day when he was filming, and for some reason, he didn't do that in the past section of the film. Since I had seen him so many times and he was always clean-shaven except when the role called for something else, I found it distracting.Power and Blyth both give very good, sensitive performances. Rennie is completely wasted -- he must have done the film to fulfill his contract with 20th Century Fox -- but he is good also.The last time I saw this film before now was when I was a child, and I never forgot it. It's a beautiful story that contains some important lessons: love is eternal, and we're where we're supposed to be.

I've searched nearly forty years for this film and was pleased to see it had finally been released on DVD. Having seen it as a child, I was desperately hoping that I would still like it as I did so many years ago. I was not disappointed. It's a great film, very well written, and beautifully restored. I loved it from beginning to end. I rented the film from Netflix and it includes another Tyrone Power film on the other side. "The Luck of the Irish," has been restored to the green color they used in the theatricle release. I'll probably watch that one too. I will definitely buy this DVD for my own library.Well worth the wait.

I believe this is the 1951 film, aka 'I'll never forget you' and 'Man of two worlds'. I have never seen this film, but my Dad has, years ago, and would dearly love to see it again. Especially the version with Tyrone Power and Ann Blythe. I am trying to find out if this is available to buy, either in the US or UK. Does anyone have any idea if this available on DVD/VHS and where I might be able to get a copy? I'd really appreciate any help or direction. Thanks