The Very Thought of You

I was born in 1936 and must have seen this movie as a kid because during my entire lifetime as soon as I heard the song "The Very Thought of You" the image of Eleanor Parker comes to mind. This movie, probably more than any other from that era, takes me back to the "home front" mentality during the war. It tells a story so common during wartime of two people in love and the tension and worry so typical when the man went off to war, perhaps never to come back. It told of love making without the embarrassing display of sex that permeates so many of today's movies. Yes, it was naive, and it would probably bore today's generation because there are no car chase scenes, no violence and no vulgar language. But most of all it gives one a good feeling about being an American. Eleanor Parker and Dennis Morgan are ideally suited. A couple of things strain credibility; i.e.,living in a large two story house on a clerk's income, getting a telegram from the War Department that names both Dennis Morgan and Dane Clark of being wounded as if they were joined at the hip, but aside from that it is mainly honest in its portrayal of wartime life on the home front. I know, I had three older brothers that went off to war. Richard Lane

This is an impressive drama about the other side of the familiar "Dear John" plot in World War II movies -- that is, what the women back home went through in fear, loneliness, and temptation while their boyfriends and husbands were far away, perhaps never to return. If you think of 40's movies as prudish, you'll be surprised by lines like, "I can't remember anymore the way it felt when we made love."

Sidebar: A supporting actress, the later-famous Faye Emerson, had just married FDR's son Elliott when this film was released. Also, if you live in L.A., you'll enjoy scenes on the Cal Tech campus and on Mt. Wilson.

In some ways, this is a series of vignettes cobbled together. The main story involves Eleanor Parker and Dennis Morgan. She had been a soda jerk when he was a chemistry student in the nearby college. Now they are reunited by chance while he is on leave from the service.

Her father is Henry Travers, very touching as a man viewed by many, himself most of all, as a failure. There is an implication that he's had emotional problems, as well. His wife, Parker's mother, is the absolutely always excellent Beulah Bondi. She looks tired, drawn, and grim when Parker first brings Morgan to the family Thanksgiving dinner but loosens up a bit once they've made her a grandmother.

Then there is comic relief Dane Clark, Morgan's military buddy. Dane Clark's is not a name that springs readily to mind when one thinks comedy but he is good. Faye Emerson is excellent as the girl he falls for while he and Morgan are on leave.

Then there is the always fascinating Andrea King, one of Parker's sisters. She has become jaded while her husband is off at sea. She has become a loose woman. When he reappears, as handsome William Prince, they somewhat improbably reconcile.

The movie is the slightly cheery side of a film noir. It has all the elements of noir. The difference is that it has a happy ending. Under the happiness, though, is terrible sadness -- both at home and fighting for our country overseas.

This movie, made during the war, shows the other side of the coin from soldiers shooting things up and being heros. Our heros are passing through Pasadena heading from one theater to another.

I was hooked from the opening of this movie, and almost missed an appointment to see the ending. The plot is predictable, but that's the whole point. Our boys were still fighting the war when this film was made, and it had a message for both the soldiers, and the women they left behind. The dysfunctional family is well portrayed, and the actors are all belivable. Small slices of small town life are peppered into the action, and the theme is that love prevails.

I was surprised that the younger sister Ellie never went on to any other acting, she was funny, smart, and cute as a button.

Make sure you bring a hankie, and watch it with someone you love. You'll thank me later.

This film captures something missing in today's "love stories". There are no sex scenes, but Dennis Morgan and Elenore Parker portray two real people in love. Morgan is a Sergeant recently relieved from duty in Alaska. For those youngsters unread in history, the Japanese also attacked Alaska during the early part of WWII. The US sent thousands of troops to guard Alaska, then a territory of the US. For those who served in that remote area, it was the kind of military duty hardly anyone writes about or makes movies. It was thankless, boring and contact with the opposite sex was usually non-existent. Not even local females were available for distraction because many of the military posts existed where not even the locals lived. The movie begins in 1944, by then, the Japanese were retreating and the threat to Alaska no longer existed. The men were being sent home for some rest and recreation before being sent into combat, primarily in the Pacific.

The character played by Morgan had been a student at Cal Tech, and he has an opportunity to visit the school before being sent back into a new assignment. Morgan and his buddy, played by Dane Clark are naturally interested in meeting some girls before returning to the all male environment. The story line has them meeting two girls on a bus, and Elenore Parker plays a defense working girl who knew Morgan when he was a student. The need for the movies of this era to avoid the stigma of a "nice girl" being picked up is avoided by creating the story line that Parker knew Morgan when he was a student. She had worked in the cafeteria, and recalled that he was a hard working and concientious student. In fact, both Morgan and Parker's characters come across as someone you would want your daughter or son to meet. Not quite the way it is today. Parker invites Morgan home to her parent's wedding anniversary. The movie indulges in a bit of WWII propaganda making Parker's sister who is married to a sailor the villain. She is dating other men. This was a problem on the minds of the thousands of separated young marrieds, for both those at home and abroad. The movie also makes the draft age male civilian brother in-law out to be a less than likable person. Yes, this movie was made in Hollywood. What a difference 50 years makes.

Although Parker and Morgan get married in a blink of an eye, there is nothing sleazy about their actions. They even have a cute baby to show for their love. My what a difference baby boomers have have made to Hollywood.