A few years ago, this would have been considered a woman's movie, dealing as it does with romantic relationships and family. Now it's basically a time capsule, showing a revealing, if idealized, portrait of the home front during WWII. The stars are certainly attractive and winning. Morgan and Parker manage an exceptional on-screen chemistry that converts what might otherwise be treacle into rather poignant drama. It's not surprising that Parker went on to a number of Oscar nominations.Produced during the war (1944), the movie shows how traditional rituals of courtship, marriage, and fidelity have been undercut by wartime priorities. Morgan and Parker are attracted to each other. But after a brief courtship, they must decide whether to marry since he's being sent off to the war front. For example, she must consider what if he's killed. Then she would be a war widow with maybe a child and no prospects for future marriage. And what of him. Is he asking too much of her. Those letters from home may be a lifeline, but what if he gets a Dear John instead. After all, Janet's (Parker) sister Molly (King) is running around on her army husband. These are the kind of uncertainties the couple must face because of the war's disruption of normal civilian life, while the screenplay does a good job of raising them.I can't help noticing that Jerry Wald acted as the producer for Warner Bros., which means the studio considered this a prestige production. Despite the many location shots, it's not a budget-heavy film. Still, there is considerable care with detail. Note that the lengthy beach scene is staged at the beach with no budget-cutting process shots, which cheaper productions undoubtedly would have used. Then too, the many supporting roles are almost uniformly well-cast, right down to lively little Ellie (Settle).My only real reservation is with Molly's sudden turn-around, a gesture, I suppose, to sunny commercialism. Then too, note the background picture of wartime Japanese Prime Minister Tojo, plus liberal use of negative term 'Jap'. Both would quickly disappear after the war. Nonetheless, the movie remains an entertaining look at how personal relationships were having to adjust to wartime priorities. And is, therefore, worth a look.

WOW, what a great film! Another stellar performance by Eleanor Parker and Dennis Morgan; supported by Faye Emerson, Dane Clark, Beulah Bondi, Henry Travers and Andrea King. I am surprised that it is not as well known today since its quality rates right up there with "Best Years of Our Lives". This war-time drama is focused on the home front and the challenges faced by a soldier on leave (Morgan) who meets and falls in love with a hometown girl (Parker). They characterize themselves as reasonable people and feel that nothing can happen between them until after the war. What follows is a touching love story with challenges, hurdles and happiness. I can't help but think that there are many folks going through the same feelings and challenges today with our soldier heroes.

This film captures something missing in today's "love stories". There are no sex scenes, but Dennis Morgan and Elenore Parker portray two real people in love. Morgan is a Sergeant recently relieved from duty in Alaska. For those youngsters unread in history, the Japanese also attacked Alaska during the early part of WWII. The US sent thousands of troops to guard Alaska, then a territory of the US. For those who served in that remote area, it was the kind of military duty hardly anyone writes about or makes movies. It was thankless, boring and contact with the opposite sex was usually non-existent. Not even local females were available for distraction because many of the military posts existed where not even the locals lived. The movie begins in 1944, by then, the Japanese were retreating and the threat to Alaska no longer existed. The men were being sent home for some rest and recreation before being sent into combat, primarily in the Pacific.The character played by Morgan had been a student at Cal Tech, and he has an opportunity to visit the school before being sent back into a new assignment. Morgan and his buddy, played by Dane Clark are naturally interested in meeting some girls before returning to the all male environment. The story line has them meeting two girls on a bus, and Elenore Parker plays a defense working girl who knew Morgan when he was a student. The need for the movies of this era to avoid the stigma of a "nice girl" being picked up is avoided by creating the story line that Parker knew Morgan when he was a student. She had worked in the cafeteria, and recalled that he was a hard working and concientious student. In fact, both Morgan and Parker's characters come across as someone you would want your daughter or son to meet. Not quite the way it is today. Parker invites Morgan home to her parent's wedding anniversary. The movie indulges in a bit of WWII propaganda making Parker's sister who is married to a sailor the villain. She is dating other men. This was a problem on the minds of the thousands of separated young marrieds, for both those at home and abroad. The movie also makes the draft age male civilian brother in-law out to be a less than likable person. Yes, this movie was made in Hollywood. What a difference 50 years makes.Although Parker and Morgan get married in a blink of an eye, there is nothing sleazy about their actions. They even have a cute baby to show for their love. My what a difference baby boomers have have made to Hollywood.

The greatest generation. This movie shows the struggle during WWII. The struggle for love and togetherness. Times were great, people were sincere and generous. Families stuck together during the threat of adversity. Eleanor Parker and Dennis Morgan are great examples of love and devotion. The excitement of meeting and enjoying our freedom in a time of war. Seeing children play our families enjoying a Christmas and Thanksgiving dinner. Our troops had to fight for our freedom and way of life. This B movie shows woman working in factories. In all this movie will give future generations how we struggled to enjoy the normal life of love and family. And how our veterans secured our freedom and our way of life today.