Great Day

This is both a delightful and a curious film of the effects of World War Two on rural British life in a small town setting. Throughout the war the women of the town have been supplying woolen goods to Allied Armies in order to do their bit for the war effort, even to the Russians defending Stalingrad. The film's delight comes from watching the womenfolk prepare for a visit from Eleanor Roosevelt, the American First Lady. The excitements from the anticipation of her visit surrounds the town and its activities. The curious side of the film has to do with the realization that the town never really changed very much during the war. Yes, there are fewer men, but the town still seems untouched by the horror of war. Small and petty problems are the order of the day, and ancient likes and dislikes rule the gossip. But did they not always? The subplot of Margaret Ellis's (by Sheila Sim)choice for a husband is a reflection of business as usual for small town activity. Indeed, getting in the wool is almost as important as the First Lady's visit. In one sense, the movie confirms that the British role in World War Two was indeed fitting and normal. The suspense of how the town will take to Mrs. Roosevelt and how she will view the town dominates the action. Alas, the great day is coming!

As the film opens, we see a group of women gathering to discuss something of GREAT importance. It turns out the town will have a famous visitor, and they are determined to have everything go just right.

Lady Mott ( Isabel Jeans ) is leading up the group to spiff up the village, and to make everything perfect, and is turning everyone upside down. She is rude to everyone, and when they call her on it, all hell breaks loose. There's one scene about 20 minutes in, where she is speaking to someone outside on a country road, and you can hear quite the echo, showing that it was clearly filmed on a sound stage. The main story revolves around the Ellis family, who all have their troubles. Meg Ellis (Sheila Sim) must choose between the two men in her life. Her father has a hobby which is discovered and frowned upon by the authorities. Supporting roles for Eric Portman and Flora Robson It's all quite entertaining, for a WWII film. IMDb lists the runtime as 62 minutes for the U.S. version, but TCM must be showing the British version at 80 minutes.

This British RKO film is directed by Lance Comfort; it took another year to make it over to the U.S. after the war had ended.

This is one of those small films about small matters looming to greatness. It's just a small village making a big fuss about a great occasion falling suddenly upon them, making them all contribute a last great war effort to welcome - Eleanor Roosevelt. Of course, she never appears in the film, because the film is about all those small common very human people who are looking foraward to receiving her by making the best possible impression. This is not so easy, as there are tragedies on the way, there is a love affair that turns out in odd ways, there is jealousy among the ladies, and there is Eric Portman in perhaps his finest act. He was always made to play impossible roles, often murderers and at least very unsympathetic characters, and this is no exception, but more overwhelmingly human in its pathetic realism. He has memories of the first world war and has been doing nothing since but living on those memories with a wife and daughter always being obliged to take care of him when he falls, but he makes this impossible role just perfectly, and you will cry for him if not for all the gorgeous community of mostly ladies just making an effort. William Alwyn's music crowns it all with an addition of Hubert Parry in the end to suit Eleanor Roosevelt together with the Star Spangled Banner. Also the cinematography is a marvel with its many close-ups, really closing in on people with their innermost feelings, like Eric Portman in the beginning with his daughter watching birds; but perhaps the greatest impression of all is made by the wonderful dialogue all the way -- it's a vast river of brilliant conversation, nothing remarakable, nothing eloquent, but flowing incessantly of just human nature. In brief, this is one of those very small films that tower above many great ones.

The ladies of the English village of Denley are called to a meeting. Eleanor Roosevelt is coming for a secret visit. Everybody is excited to prepare for the privilege. The Ellis family has their internal dramas.

This was released in London on April 13 1945 and after the war in the States. President Roosevelt happened to die on April 12, 1945. It must have been quite a dark emotional premier if they even had one. I can also see why this was a box office failure. As a movie, this drama is a bit of Our Town at war. The small town affair doesn't mean a whole lot to me, but there are interesting war discussions. It's British. It's based on a play. It failed.

Gosh, what an odd view the other reviews paint of this film's setting! The Women's Institute was a significant voluntary organisation during WW2. This film is one of many paying a tribute to that organisation - a recognition of their contribution to the war effort. Like other films of this type, e.g. Fires Were Started, they'd be a bit dull if they didn't include some human interest - and that is where most of the plot is driven - in particular with respect to the Ellis family.

The casting is interesting. The year before the fantastic A Canterbury Tale - a Powell and Pressburger gem - came out. The stars of this brilliant film were - Eric Portman and Sheila Sim - Captain and Miss Ellis in Great Day. The chemistry between the two in ACT was, I'm sure, what got them into Great Day. Even Miss Sim's (later Lady Attenborough, by the way) clothes were carried over - it seems!