Claudette Colbert Movie Recommendation #3

Since You Went Away (1944) - 2 hrs 52 mins

When Anne Hilton’s (Claudette Colbert) husband goes off to fight in WW2, she’s left to face the hardships of the home front alone, along with her two daughters Jane (Jennifer Jones) and Bridget (Shirley Temple). Life goes on, but Anne must stay strong. She becomes the family’s beacon as as they struggle financially, make sacrifices for the war effort, and her daughters deal with heartbreak and loss. Colbert, Jones, and Temple all turn in strong performances, but this Oscar-winning film also features wonderful performances from Monty Woolley as the retired Colonel Smollett, Robert Walker as his grandson, Joseph Cotten as the family friend and Hattie McDaniel as well as Agnes Moorehead.
As the final recommendation for this month’s Star of the Month, Colbert’s So Proudly We Hail (1943) might have been a more obvious choice as her role dominates the film. However, I chose Since You Went Away precisely because Colbert’s role and performance more subtly anchor the film, making this an important film to watch in terms of her body of work. The film is usually written off as overly sentimental, but I recommend watching it through the lens of the time. It was 1944 and people were tired of the war. Those who remained home were left wondering and worried, feeling useless. You’ll find that the film has a lot more to say in this context.

*Go here to listen to the Oscar-winning film score by Max Steiner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDdnWTL1SJY&list=PLdgPWGm3l7ux7cN_AYZlB4YKyOGg3Hj4k&t=0s&index=17

Availability: Youtube, Amazon video, Googleplay, DVD, and Blu-ray.

Purchase DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Since-You-Went-Away-Roadshow/dp/B075DSNG2X/ref=asc_df_B075DSNG2X/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312150467994&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15464061685486914365&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003967&hvtargid=pla-569685489728&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=62195418895&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312150467994&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15464061685486914365&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003967&hvtargid=pla-569685489728