Inverno D'Alma

Good deeds better be their own reward since they can easily backfire as the movie shows. Poor Mark Sabre (Pidgeon) undergoes something of a mid-life dedication to doing good for others above everything else. Maybe it's a reaction to his cold-hearted wife (Lansbury) or renewed affection for now married former flame Nona (Kerr). Whatever the reason, circumstances are conspiring to ruin him because of his kindness. So how will things finally sort out.

It's the kind of production MGM specialized in—classy players in classy surroundings (British). Nonetheless, the topic of unwed motherhood was rather daring for its time, figuring quietly but importantly in the plot here. It's Britain 1939 and civil society is responding to WWII mobilization, including the small town of Pennygreen, whose sons are suddenly marching off to war. While on the homefront, volunteers are flocking to boost civil defense.

The movie's first part meanders some, appearing to head in one direction— namely, straightening out Sabre's love life. But then his lady-love Kerr largely disappears from screen, gone into civil defense. At the same time, the second part changes direction, picking up in suspense, when the unlucky Effie enters the picture. Because of Sabre's selfless attitude, we can't be sure how the movie will end. Still, I wonder if there isn't a backstory to Kerr's abrupt absence and the resulting shift of direction.

Anyway, in my book, a youthful Leigh steals the film with a highly sensitive turn as the star-crossed Effie. It's easy to see why she climbed the Hollywood ladder so quickly. At the same time, the unknowns playing High Jinx and Low Jinx manage to spark proceedings with their imaginative character concepts. Of course, vets like Pigeon and Kerr come through on cue, while Lansbury's stony wife would send any guy packing.

All in all, it's well done soap opera with a few surprises that should please fans of tangled relationships.

If Winter Comes is an unusual story that pits pits Mark Sabre, a kind and respectable man played by Walter Pigeon, against a town that seems bent on vilifying anyone who strays from the straight and narrow, even when there is no real evidence for his presumed misdeeds. Walter Pigeon is in his usual role as a model citizen, which he plays so often in movies like Mrs. Miniver, Advise and Consent, and Executive Suite. Janet Leigh, Deborah Kerr, and Angela Lansbury, play his friend, lover, and wife, in that order. Janet Leigh was particularly good as the innocent girl, with whom he is presumed to have a romantic interest. Deborah Kerr is his real love interest and whose love and loyalty is unwavering. Deborah Kerr is usually typecast in roles as the English lady who is never quite at ease with the opposite sex. In this movie, she has no doubt about who is the love of her life and pursues Mark, despite the steadfast love of her own husband. Finally, Angela Lansbury is very cold, efficient and downright mean as Mark's wife. Reginald Owen is the boss who uses a morality clause in Mark's contract to get revenge on a man whose generosity and common touch are too unconventional for his liking. I was pleased with the cast of the movie with Deborah Kerr shining in the final court room scene.

This movie, wonderfully performed, touches some deep aspect of human life under stress. The combination of war and love affairs is not new. Neither it is the attraction between a mature man and a young girl. However, the spectators must be mislead if they follow that path. Why the movie is about trusting, at different levels: husband and wife, lovers, mature and young, at home, at work, at the pub. There is also a political involvement: the voice of the people, which has two sides. Love can be lost, honor will not. This motto is crucial.The war is an ominous backstage, never shown. Walter Pidgeon makes an extraordinary performance, the rest of the cast does not lag behind. The final scene is simply convincing: as it has to be. Appreciating it requires some insight, undoubtedly.

Despite some of the negative reviews on this site, I really enjoyed this 1947 film, which is set in England right before war is declared in Europe.

Walter Pidgeon is Mark Sabre, a successful writer of children's books, who works at a prominent publishing house. He is well respected and liked in the small town of Penneygreen, where he lives. Though he is a shareholder in the company, he will never be made partner because his boss thinks that Mark's political views are too radical. In fact, he'd love it if Mark weren't even in the company. But the only way he can get rid of him is if Mark violates the morals clause in his contract.

Mark married the formal, somewhat cold Mabel (Angela Lansbury) on the rebound. Now his former love, Nona (Deborah Kerr) returns to town with her husband after a long absence. Nona and Mark realize that they are still in love, but decide for the moment that they can't act on their feelings.

Mark's situation is complicated by a young pregnant woman, Effie (Janet Leigh) who turns to Mark for help after her father turns her out. Mark takes the girl in, and Mabel, believing him to be the father, leaves him. A scandal erupts, and Mark's career and reputation hang in the balance.

"If Winter Comes" is an absorbing drama with good performances. Walter Pidgeon was a solid leading man and is sympathetic and strong here as the principled Mark; as the nasty Mabel, Angela Lansbury, then only 21, is very effective. With darker hair and the way her makeup is done, Deborah Kerr continues to remind me of Maureen O'Hara in her early films. She gives a lovely performance, a good juxtaposition to Lansbury's judgmental, snobbish Mabel. As Effie, Janet Leigh justifies her discovery by Norma Shearer; she sports a good English accent and gives a heartfelt portrayal. Binnie Barnes, Dame May Witty, Reginald Owen, Hugh French, and Dennis Hoey round out the excellent supporting cast.

Recommended, and not only to people who liked Mrs. Miniver.

This was sort of two movies in one. It started out with Angela Lansbury as a self-centered woman who was fearful that her husband (Walter Pidgeon) would be drawn back to his old flame. Lansbury was quite good as the wife who had an interesting approach to this situation. But later, the movie turned into a story about a young woman (Janet Leigh, doing a good British accent), who turns to Pidgeon for help and inadvertently causes a host of problems for him. Deborah Kerr is also good as Pidgeon's old girlfriend, but even with the good cast, the movie overall is little more than a confused soap opera, and the ending doesn't make much sense. Not one I'd recommend, unless you're a particular fan of anybody in the cast.