Invitation

The high rating is due to the cast. Van Johnson is really underrated, as is Ruth Roman. Both of them, especially in later roles, displayed a great deal of talent that was underutilized by Hollywood.

However, the true standout here is the radiant Dorothy McGuire--playing a "plain" girl. Plain? Even with a bag over her head, Miss McGuire could never be plain. In addition to her consummate and versatile acting ability, she can be summed up in four words--THAT FACE, THAT VOICE. She is one of the truly greats who can never be replicated.

The lovely score by Bronislau Kaper adds to the enjoyment of the movie; the title song, "Invitation," has become a standard. (Percy Faith recorded it memorably on one of his many albums.)

It is a comment on Hollywood and the current audiences that this film--essentially a woman's picture--is graced with such literate dialog and fine acting that is not often seen today.

I never liked Dorothy McGuire as and actor, but in this film she was spot-on!

Van Johnson never made a bad movie (he's the glue that holds "Battlegound" and "The Caine Mutnity" together). HE never looks like he's acting; has that college boy look (always up to the next girl adventure).

It's a compelling story that is easily plausible and very human. I'm guessing that it was shown back to back with "Til We Meet Again," a similar tragic situation, yet much more intense. So if you liked "Invitation" you had to enjoy this one as well, assuming you liked the actors: George Brent and Merle Oberon.

I do not like spoiling a movie by telling specific about it; reviews should be, in my intractable position, your response to story and actor. Stop telling what happens.

I love these old B/W film. The quality forever surpasses predictable crap made today.

An underrated, somewhat ignored film, Invitation , is much more than a soap opera. The cast, including Van Johnson, Louis Calherne, and Ruth Roman, deliver solid, professional performances. But it's wonderful Dorothy McGuire who raises the film to the fine level it attains. Her performance as a sick woman whose father has bought her a husband so she can have a short time of happiness before her demise , is positively incandescent. Her performance is full of subtlety, nuance, shading and real pathos. Sincere, sympathetic and utterly believable at all times, she makes the film very poignant. Recommended highly!!

Simple story. Great writing and acting. An unusual love story that keeps the viewer interested from beginning to end. If this movie were to be made today, there would be foul language, a couple affairs a business man being investigated and a doctor accused of sexual harassment. None of which would have been necessary. And all wrapped up in under 90 minutes. What a gem!!

The soaper's better than it had any right to be. A plain looking single woman (McGuire) has a heart condition and only a year to live. Her wealthy father (Calhern) wants to inject some happiness into her remaining year, so he bribes handsome Dan (Johnson) to marry her. Trouble is this leaves cold-hearted Maud (Roman) minus her heart's desire, Dan. Thus she plots revenge.

A plain girl with a year to live!—sure it's a tear-jerker but done intelligently without rubbing our nose in it. Ellen's had a difficult time holding onto self- respect after years of romantic rejection. Her sense of dignity has somewhat hardened, making her more sympathetic than likable. It's a difficult role, similar to DeHaviland's in The Heiress (1949). Fortunately, winning actress McGuire rivets interest in the woman's plight despite an unsmiling demeanor. At the same time, Johnson's boyish charm hits the right notes, though the production fudges on showing Dan's grasping side. To me, that's the movie's biggest flaw, though given the script's general direction, probably understandable. On the other hand, credit MGM's production crew with first-rate craftsmanship in putting the elements together in tasteful fashion. Good also to see such supporting players as Ray Collins and Louis Calhern adding their brand of plausibility to the results. And credit someone—writers, producer?—with avoiding a clichéd ending.

No, there's nothing memorable here. But considering the many excesses a movie like this is subject to, the results amount to an affecting exercise in sheer Hollywood professionalism.