Reencontro em Fairborough

The star power of Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr carry Reunion At Fairborough for the audiences watching HBO in 1985. Though this film is only a pale reflection of their previous work like Heaven Knows Mr. Allison, The Sundowners, and The Grass Is Greener, these two legends show the 1980s cable HBO viewers what being a screen legend is all about.

Mitchum plays a 60 something with little to look forward to having lost his job, made a failure at his two marriages, and with no prospects is looking toward a bleak future. He hears from Barry Morse who was a sergeant in his old Army Air Corps outfit and they're planning a reunion for the survivors where their base was, in Fairborough across the pond.

While there what better to do than look up an old wartime romance who is shop owner Deborah Kerr. Turns out they had a daughter whom he never knew about and a granddaughter as well. The daughter and her husband were killed in an automobile crash and Kerr has raised granddaughter Judi Trott who certainly was cast because of her red hair so like Kerr's famous scarlet tresses.

The film is Mitchum getting reacquainted with Kerr and getting to know the granddaughter he never knew he had. Trott is quite the radical, she's busy protesting the American air base nearby the old Army Air Corps field and the nuclear weapons there. Trott also doesn't like Americans as a rule, but she can't help liking Mitchum.

Red Buttons is in this film playing one of the enlisted men during war time who is now an alcoholic janitor. It's a wonderful performance of a man who was not blessed with the material success that Mitchum found so fleeting. Buttons really stands out in this film.

So do the old pros Mitchum and Kerr. The two liked and respected each other and it shows through in the work. It's not as good as their big screen films but I'll take them on any old screen.

So many movies I have watched with Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr. They are wonderful together. So believeable. I have watched this movie twice this year. I am sorry I didn't know about it in 1985. The nicest romance that anyone can see. Thank you. Florence Forrester-Stockton, Reno, Nevada

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In the film, the reunion involves WW II veterans of the 323rd Bomb Squadron, which actually existed. It was part of the 91st Bomb Group based at Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire (8th Air Force Station 121) from 1942 to 1945.

The group's emblem was a "Triangle A" on the tail, though the movie shows B-17s from several other groups. The 91st is best known as the organization that flew "The Memphis Belle", which belonged to the 324th Squadron.

A much better than average TV film. Cinematography and solid acting performances make it worthy of watching. A fine story of a WWII pilot who visits his old base in England during a veteran's reunion. Mitchum,the pilot, reunites with his old love,Deborah Kerr. Add a peace activist grandaughter and several old Army Air Force buddies and the story develops nicely. Mitchum rules and the film is good family fare.

Please help me to find this video or see it on tv.It is one of the finest movies i think of Robert Mitchum in his career,and the supporting cast is excellent.Deborah Kerr also stars in the movie and is outstanding.Red Buttons is one of the excellent supporting actors and has another outstanding part.