Invitation

Simple story. Great writing and acting. An unusual love story that keeps the viewer interested from beginning to end. If this movie were to be made today, there would be foul language, a couple affairs a business man being investigated and a doctor accused of sexual harassment. None of which would have been necessary. And all wrapped up in under 90 minutes. What a gem!!

This glossy MGM film bears traces of DARK VICTORY, with Dorothy McGuire suddenly finding out about her impending doom and that her marriage is a sham--a convenience arranged by her loving father and a man who always had a soft spot for her, Van Johnson. To her credit, McGuire plays the role with great simplicity and sincerity, especially moving once she finds out what's really going on around her. Her quiet reaction to what Van Johnson reveals (in a long monologue) is one of the finest aspects of her overall performance. Her face reflects so many shaded nuances of expression as she tries to understand the truth.

But sadly, the script never lives up to its promise. Despite some fine acting by Louis Calhern as her father and Ruth Roman as a vindictive woman who has been cast aside by Johnson, none of it is told in a compelling enough format. It's as though Ladies Home Journal had a hand in selecting the impeccable furniture and set designs. Gottfried Reinhardt's heavy direction seems incapable of infusing the story with a real sense of life.

It's no help that there's little real chemistry between Dorothy McGuire and Van Johnson. He gives a decent performance but it's as though his heart isn't in the role--there's not much he can do with it. Despite his limitations, McGuire commands the screen with an incisive portrayal and has seldom looked lovelier even though she is supposed to have barely a year to live. Ruth Roman is quite convincing as "the other woman" in Van's life.

An asset is the haunting theme, "Invitation," which could have been used more forcefully for the final thirty minutes of exposition.

I hate this expression, because I dont categorize film by gender, etc. a good movie is a good movie thats it However, it is appropriate to use in this case.... A very good film never heard of/ once again, Thank You TCM.... another sleepless night... I got hooked immediately. Dorothy McGuire was such a special actress, always good !! beautiful and elegant, this film was geared for her special talents..Beautiful MGM production, with excellent cast, Van Johnson as the husband, who must eventually proove his love; Ruth Roman, in a very "bitchy" role,, as the "other woman", with a twist,, she plays this role extremely well also; and Louis Calhern as the very rich aristocratic overloving father. Good cast / good storyline/ started at 2AM in my area, could not get back to sleep, and my VCR was not on.. Glad I watched... Dorothy McGuire was a treasure!!

I'll admit it - it's taken me a long time to write a review for this movie, because Dorothy McGuire was my favorite actress and since she passed away last year I've had trouble watching this, my favorite movie of hers.

"Invitation" is truly a film unlike any other. Dorothy McGuire is so beautiful (although the department did their best to make her look plain for the part), and she captures the passion of this role completely. Dorothy plays Ellen, who discovers something that makes everything she knows seem like a fraud. She realizes she has to question her whole life, her family, and her husband's loyalty. I don't want to give anything away, because it's meant for you to go on the same journey as Ellen. Dorothy is simply heart-breaking, and in my opinion it was the performance of a lifetime.

The supporting cast is superb, most notably Van Johnson and Ruth Roman, but this movie really belongs to Dorothy. She carries the whole film on her shoulders, and never falters once. It's a very emotional film, and I am still saddened when I think of her loss. She was an actress I always had a great respect for, and always hoped to meet. But, as she herself says at the end of the film, "There is something much more important than keeping alive, and that is knowing that you have lived."

The high rating is due to the cast. Van Johnson is really underrated, as is Ruth Roman. Both of them, especially in later roles, displayed a great deal of talent that was underutilized by Hollywood.

However, the true standout here is the radiant Dorothy McGuire--playing a "plain" girl. Plain? Even with a bag over her head, Miss McGuire could never be plain. In addition to her consummate and versatile acting ability, she can be summed up in four words--THAT FACE, THAT VOICE. She is one of the truly greats who can never be replicated.

The lovely score by Bronislau Kaper adds to the enjoyment of the movie; the title song, "Invitation," has become a standard. (Percy Faith recorded it memorably on one of his many albums.)

It is a comment on Hollywood and the current audiences that this film--essentially a woman's picture--is graced with such literate dialog and fine acting that is not often seen today.