Intrigue

A young man loved by two sisters becomes a naval officer and sails to New Zealand, where he drunkenly writes a marriage proposal to the wrong sister, profoundly affecting the life of the other.

Sophie loved Edmund, but he left town when her parents forced her to marry wealthy Octavius. Years later, Edmund returns with his son William, who falls in love with Sophie's daughter Marguerite, whose sister Marianne also loves William. Timothy, a lowly carpenter, secretly loves Marianne. He kills a man in a fight, and Edmund helps him flee to New Zealand. William deserts inadvertently from the Navy, and also flees in disgrace to New Zealand, where he and Timothy start a profitable business. One night, drunk, William writes Octavius, demanding his daughter's hand, but being drunk, he errs.—James Barrett <jbarrett@sbastk.ess.sunysb.edu>

Based on the prize-winning novel by Elizabeth Goudge, the spectacular special effects (including a monster earthquake, a tidal wave and a bloody native uprising) were honored with an Academy Award*.

Two beautiful daughters of a wealthy merchant fall in love with the same handsome young man (Richard Hart), but because he favors the gentle modesty of Marguerite (Donna Reed), her "not quite nice" sister Marianne (LanaTurner) persuades him to seek his fortune abroad. Settled down in business in New Zealand with a friend (Van Heflin), he sends for Marguerite to join him: however, he drunkenly addresses his proposal to sensual Marianne. When the wrong sister meets up with her husband-to-be and his partner, a bitter rivalry is provoked between the men for the love of an irresistible woman.

Green Dolphin Street, which co-stars Frank Morgan. Edmund Gwenn and Dame May Whitty, is an entertaining blockbuster, combining high adventure with violent passion. 2 hours, 21 minutes; Black & White

*Best Effects, Special Effects 1948 A. Arnold Gillespie (visual) Warren Newcombe (visual) Douglas Shearer (audible) Michael Steinore (audible)