Well, I know who you are. You're someone awfully nice

[sovay]

So on the one hand Random Harvest (1942) is a three-hanky romance of the oldest school, with lovers thrown together and severed and at last reunited by twists of fate and psychology, ending in embraces and joyous tears, and on the other hand it's a poignant and intelligent literalization of the fragmentation of identity by war, of trying to fit back together all the pieces of shell-shock and peacetime and the persistent sense of being "ghost-ridden," haunted by things one can neither remember nor forget—affecting not only soldiers, but their lovers, who are themselves neither static nor indestructible. All of this is subtext, never once raised or alluded to, except that the story begins on Armistice Day and ends in retracing that fateful night. No wonder it's a classic. I have to read the novel and see what was James Hilton and what was created onscreen.

Comments

[blubeagle.livejournal.com]

One more reason to like you. This is a top ten movie for me, if ever there was one.

[clarionj.livejournal.com]

Another movie I haven't seen! For a while, way back, I was renting old movies that I knew I should see, and I was really enjoying it. I'd like to get back to that little goal, though I've a feeling the time for it is not quite yet. Thanks for the reviews. I keep a list of movies-to-see, and I'm glad it's long. The future looks full and fun.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed the book of Lost Horizon; I'd say there's a high chance the book of Random Harvest will be good. Glad to hear the movie was such a treat!

[cucumberseed.livejournal.com]

Sounds very interesting...

[sovay]

One more reason to like you.

I am glad you approve!

This is a top ten movie for me, if ever there was one.

What are your other nine?

[sovay]

Sounds very interesting...

I'd had the film recommended to me before, but no one had told me they got deliberately explored psychological realism in my classic postwar romance. I was very pleased.

[sovay]

I really enjoyed the book of Lost Horizon; I'd say there's a high chance the book of Random Harvest will be good.

I should both see and re-read Lost Horizon; I have a video cassette somewhere around the house, and I think there's a paperback downstairs. I don't think it was the first movie I saw Ronald Colman in, but I haven't seen it more recently than high school.

Glad to hear the movie was such a treat!

I recommend it!

[sovay]

Thanks for the reviews. I keep a list of movies-to-see, and I'm glad it's long. The future looks full and fun.

You're very welcome. I hope you can get around to them all!

[blubeagle.livejournal.com]

Randomly:

Wuthering Heights (except I wish it had the whole book)

Mrs. Skeffington

Grand Hotel

8 1/2

The Most Dangerous Game

The Public Enemy

Angels with Dirty Faces

Top Hat

Nosferatu

---This is simply a partial list. I am a rabid movie fan. :+)

[blubeagle.livejournal.com]

I forgot to mention to you that I've read the book as well. I actually like it better than the movie (for far too many reasons).

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I hasten to say that I haven't read Lost Horizon myself since I was a young and uncritical teen, so....