Claudia

I'm not sure why I was disappointed with this film. Maybe because it was too stage-y or maybe it was Dorothy McGuire's performance or maybe it was because, when you get right down to it, the 3 basic themes of the film have all been handled better in other films. To me, the script seemed contrived.

Robert Young's performance is the opposite of Dorothy McGuire's - she is unconvincing and overacts at every opportunity (and there were lots of opportunities), while he gave a nice, nuanced performance filled with genuine emotion. I found Ms. McGuire's character and performance annoying to the nth degree. Had this film not gotten good reviews, I never would have watched it all the way through. The best scenes were when Ina Claire and Robert Young were interacting.

Maybe it's a chick film and that's why I didn't find myself enjoying it as much as I anticipated.

A domestic drama like this could easily have collapsed into a tub of suds. But thanks to McGuire's winning performance and the movie's dark edges, it's an engaging profile of facing life as a grown-up. McGuire's Claudia is a ditzy girl-woman who never walks when she can run and says the first thing that comes into her head, which is usually charming or silly. Fortunately, mature husband David (Young) provides an anchor, clearly beguiled by her girlish ways.

Together they have a unique rapport on their Connecticut farm. Trouble is Claudia's wracked at times by self-doubt and her rather plain looks. Besides she's still somewhat dependent on her indulgent mom (Claire). Clearly, Claudia still has some growing up to do, especially in learning to deal with responsibility and life's dark side, which is what the movie's about.

Goulding directs with a light hand, never allowing the material to drift into sentimentality, the bane of domestic dramas such as this. And I love the sheer nuttiness of the Russian countess (Baclanova) when she breaks into her 5-alarm operatic screech that's like nothing I've seen or heard-- my ears are still ringing! But it's clearly McGuire's movie, showing why Claudia's warmth and charm launched the actress on such a long and successful film career. And I agree with another reviewer: if you like this film, you'll also like its sequel Claudia and David (1946), which is even better.

Claudia is a child bride whose insecurity and inexperience nearly destroy her idyllic marriage to an older man. During the course of the film, Claudia is forced to mature and to learn what makes a marriage between two adults. What makes this film special is the luminous portrayal of Dorothy McGuire in her film debut. Her beauty and sweetness have remained in my mind for over forty years, when I first saw this movie on TV. For students of social history, the 1940's setting also gives us a glimpse of marriage and social customs sixty years ago. But the real reason to see this film and its sequel, Claudia and David, is McGuire. I can compare her beauty only with that of the young Maria Schell.

I saw this film many years ago and remembered nearly all of it. It was a real treat to see it again.

Dorothy McGuire recreates her stage role in a wonderful screen debut as Claudia, the guileless child bride of Robert Young. Her naiveté gets her into some difficulty with an amorous neighbor (Reginald Gardiner) and her attachment to her ailing mother (Ina Claire) is a concern to her husband.

McGuire and Young make a charming screen couple - she is all energy and he is more deadpan - it's a nice contrast, and the two characters are obviously very much in love. Ina Claire turns in a warm and touching performance as Claudia's mother.

McGuire sparkles in this role, particularly in the transition when Claudia is forced to grow up almost overnight. Of course, she went on to have a great career that spanned nearly 50 years in film. It's easy to see why when you watch "Claudia." This was followed by a sequel, "Claudia and David."

"Claudia" is a very good story of family, love and newlyweds filled with light comedy and drama. It's also the first film made by Dorothy McGuire and a very good and unusual look at that superb actress. That's because, McGuire's persona in later films, for which she was most identified and remembered was as a more quiet, serene and dignified person. So, this early look at McGuire is quite a contrast. Yet, it clearly shows her acting talent. She was chosen for this film which reprises the role she played in the highly successful stage play of the same title, that ran 722 performances on Broadway in 1941 to 1943.

McGuire was 27 when this movie was made. Her "late" start in film, came after she had been on the stage. Her first role was at age 13 in an Omaha community playhouse. She then performed in high school and college, and wound up in summer stock at age 21. By 1937 she was acting on Broadway.

McGuire never won an Academy Award but was nominated for one, and later for three Emmy's for television. Of all the roles of the few actresses who received nominations in their debut films, McGuire was certainly deserving of an Oscar nomination here. But 1943 was like many another year during the golden age of Hollywood. So many very talented actresses were in as many great movies that made the competition exceptional that year. Jennifer Jones won the best actress Oscar for her role in "The Song of Bernadette;" over Ingrid Bergman in "For Whom the Bell Tolls." And three other great actresses nominated were Greer Garson, Jean Arthur and Joan Fontaine.

McGuire had many succeeding films with lead roles, most of which were highly successful films. While she did appear in a few TV series late in her career, she didn't have her own show or series. She made occasional movies in matronly or other dramatic roles, and she made TV movies as well. She also returned to the stage and helped Gregory Peck and some other actors form the La Jolla Playhouse.

Well, this is a fine movie about life, with McGuire's Claudia as a very young bride. She's almost immature, very energetic and almost childish in her enthusiasm at times. She is somewhat naïve, very close to her mother, and very much in love with her husband, played very well by Robert Young. This was McGuires first of three very successful pairings with Young. While he had a long career in cinema with many good films under his belt, Young will forever be remembered mostly as Marcus Welby, M. D., for that highly popular TV series that ran for eight years from 1969 through 1976.

Others of the cast of this film give very good performances. Ina Claire is Mrs. Brown, Claudia's mother. Reginald Gardiner is a playwright neighbor in the Naughton's rural Connecticut setting. And, Olga Baclanova, the Russian actress who defected from the Soviet Union in 1925, has a nice role, adding some comedic spice to the film.

One word of caution for those who might think of watching this film in a family setting. The younger audiences of the 21st century may find this film hard to sit through. It is heavy with talking and dialogue. So, younger folks (through middle age, no doubt) who thrive on lots of action and relentless motion in their viewing may quickly be bored.