While I Live

I have to disagree with all the other reviewers.Unfortunately this nothing but melodramatic tosh which because of its slightly spiritualistic theme was popular with audiences after the war since they were still grieving for those lost in the war.This film actually makes Madonna of the seven Moons seem to be a work of the realist school.The acting is rather hammy,Tom walls with his mummerset accent is particularly bad.The production generally poor and the script is just a laugh a minute.Every possible cliché of this type of film is piled on.Much as i love films of this era i have to say that i just found it to be preposterous nonsense but suited to the audience that viewed it.

Compared to today's line-readers sometimes called, "actors," this cast is first-rate. A bit corny, perhaps, but so is Gone With the Wind. The film hit a nerve with 1947 audiences who were dreaming their war dead might return. Watch it with that thought in mind and you'll shed tears.

The film keeps replaying and replaying Charles Williams' "Dream of Olwen" a perhaps little too much, but I don't tire of it. For over 50 years, "Dream of Olwen" has been one of my favorite musical pieces. Not until recently did I learn that it came from this film.

The young amnesiac woman who visits on the night of the 25th anniversary of the death of Julia's sister, Olwen, brings too many coincidental similarities to Olwen. The story is an wonderful original mystery tale.

While I Live is directed by John Harlow and written by Robert Bell, John Harlow and Doreen Montgomery. It stars Tom Walls, Clifford Evans, Sonia Dresdel, Patricia Burke, John Warwick, Edward Lexy and Audrey Fildes. Music is by Charles Williams and cinematography by Freddie Young.

It has been 25 years since her composer sister died in tragic circumstance, but Julia Trevelyan (Dresdel) still obsesses over her. Then one day an amnesiac woman arrives at the family home looking for help, and now Julia is certain that she is the reincarnation of her beloved sister.

It has become one of those films more known for its theme music than for the film itself. For here we have Charles Williams' quite beautiful "The Dream of Olwen" featuring as a key part of the narrative. It's the piece of work that Olwen Trevelyan (Fildes) was struggling to finish before her untimely death. While it's undeniably the beating heart of the pic, it's a disservice to ignore what characteristic and narrative smarts are on show.

This is a fascinating delve into not only the world of amnesia, but also to that of grief as a sometimes unstoppable force. Thus with the setting to the tale being a cliff top dwelling in Cornwall, pic is ripe for ethereal tones and shadowy visuals, with the mystery of the amnesiac lady a constant intrigue. It's all very improbable of course, and much of the acting is of its time and very "correct" as it were, but this is a lovely film with sharp themes at the core, some nifty tech aspects on show and a bona fide classic piece of music driving it forward. 7.5/10

I've seen this film dozens of times, albeit that the music "The Dream of Olwen" is the most haunting and beautiful piece and holds this film together, the acting and story line I find entertaining and most pleasant...It's a GREAT pity they don't make films like this now, instead of the some of the TRASH that is churned out.

I hope this film will soon be put to DVD and available in England. So many fine British films never seem to find their way to DVD of even become available to the British public

If you like truly great music (Written by Charles Williams) and a light yet very watchable film then this is for you, a haunting film that you will recall, and watch time and again..Excellent !

I could not have stated it better than Jeremy Ross (London).I watched the film too when I was a kid. I even remember that it was on a Sunday afternoon. Haven't seen it since. It must have been about 1963. I have lived in America since 1974 but I remember that there was very excellent TV pro grammes in England during the 60's, this film being one of them! The scene where Olwyn is standing at the edge of the cliff still sticks in my memory after all these years. I didn't actually know the name of the film it's self until I looked up the music (dream of Olwyn on You tube. If the film were available on DVD, I am sure it would appeal to a lot of people.