This is in fact a quite good movie. The plot is fresh, a bit off the beaten tracks - of Cinderella, Run-away Bride, Pygmalion, or the simple soaps with or without triangles.
The But... factor comes due to - unfortunately the only print that seems to be available isn't very good . The audio of course is good, and the picture quality is not too snowy. It is quite watchable, and characters recognisable, though sharpness is missing, with that I am sure I would have enjoyed it much more. But I am still glad to put my hand on the DVD, even in this shape.
The plot is: the hero, just six month in his marriage to his childhood sweetheart is drafted and packed off to London - pining for his wife and her Chocolate Cake (an important piece of evidence, so can't fail to mention that). In the bomb shelters - where he takes intermittent shelter - he comes across an old man, who, he doesn't realise then, is from the nobility.
It is his second wedding anniversary, of which 18 months are away, pining for each other, when an unexpected opportunity comes his way. His close friends, from the AIrforce, are to fly to US on a mission, and our Hero, has been given three day pass. So his friends encourage him to go technically AWOL, and hitch-fly to US and wife, with them. Despite many risks, including an unexpected additional passenger, a top General, he manages to spend a night with his wife, and successfully comes back before the three days are over, with his wife's prize cake, shared by the friends, and Sir Archibald, the old man in bomb-shelter. He has met the wife in the sly, and she was asked not to tell any one (else, he would be court-martial-ed). When he comes back from war, the strange looks from all in his town befuddles him, till he comes to know his wife has become a mother. Naturally for all, except him, a result of her immorality. That was nothing he was too worried about, but there was a legacy from his ancestor - a half million for his son, provided he was born within a certain date, which was just a week away. He know it is his son, his wife does, but no one else does, or even believes him.
He has to save his wife's honour and his son'e legacy. There are quite a few witnesses in his escapade. He runs around each of them, to corroborate his crime, but each have their reason to deny.
The pilots, as well as the crew of the aircraft - for assisting an AWOL, will be themselves stripped off their ranks and face court-martial. The General doesn't remember, which is natural. His townsman was with his flame, so naturally can't 'remember'. The local newspaper proprietor, and the show girl (Gail Patrick) in the club the friends had visited, whiling away the time for his train to home believe him, but that's not a proof. The proof is obtained - with help of the show girl, who helps him and tells him the reason too, since he has beaten up her husband !
A bit of circumstantial fitting of jigsaw - (the mission and the pass coinciding, or the crucial piece of witness being in the vicinity etc). But still those don't rankle.
Pacing of the movie is excellent. Except two (Gail and Walburn, the man with mistress at the club) - all are unknown to me. But they performed very well.
To end - I wish a better and remastered DVD is brought out, by the studio or some one other. I am surprised why this delightful movie has gone into oblivion.
As a footnote - I am not sure - whether the person would get away - despite being discharged - for the crime while in uniform (AWOL) ? Or he was to be still tried, in civil/ military court for it ? It doesn't matter of course, since he was ready for even a prison sentence, for his son and his wife.
