The opening of the great tearjerker Enchantment is mesmerizing. The camera travels across an English street littered with homes, and as a soothing narration speaks, he introduces himself as one of the houses. "Wait; you almost missed me," he says as the camera stops and zooms in on one particular house. A house isn't described by its four walls, it's distinguishable by its memories, the laughter of children, and whispered secrets. Inside the house, we hear the youthful promises echoing through the empty rooms: "We'll have seven children and a million pounds a year!" If you don't take the first few minutes as a clue to grab an extra Kleenex box, take my word for it. You'll need twice as many tissues as you think.
David Niven, aged up with white hair and wrinkles, lives alone and has clearly survived a life of sadness and regret. He learns of a blooming romance between his niece, Evelyn Keyes, and his former love's nephew, Farley Granger, and as the young lovers face their obstacles, Niven recounts his youthful love affair with Teresa Wright.
This is an incredibly beautiful film, with a love story that should be remembered and ranked up with the greatest classics, like Gone with the Wind and Casablanca. Unfortunately, this film has mostly gone unremembered through the years, and I can't understand why. With Hugo Friedhofer's beautiful score, a sensitive screenplay adaptation by John Patrick-writer of The Hasty Heart, Some Came Running, and Love is a Many-Splendored Thing-and fantastic performances by Niven and Wright, this should be a go-to classic on anyone's list. After a role like this, it's a wonder David Niven didn't play continuous romantic leads the remainder of his career. He and Teresa have a wonderful chemistry together, and with the infinite sadness in his eyes, it's no wonder I bawl my way through the movie.
There's an added tragedy from behind the scenes that, once known, makes you treasure this movie as one of David Niven's finest. He was recently widowed from a horrible accident, and while he was at rock-bottom struggling to raise his two young sons, he was forced back to work by Samuel Goldwyn. Many actors were encouraged to keep working in order to bury their grief, but this film must have been a great torture to film. As Niven falls in love with a beautiful, young, innocent girl on the screen and promises they'll always love each other, "even when we're old," he lives with the knowledge that the same promises he made to his wife will never come true. I don't know how he managed to survive rehearsals and filming, but there's no great mystery why he couldn't bear to be alone any longer. While filming Bonnie Prince Charlie abroad the following year, he immersed himself in a whirlwind romance, brought her home, and married her.
The preview is a great representation without giving anything away, a rare treat in old movie previews. If it tugs at your heart, rent the movie. You might bump it to the top of your list of cinematic romances. Bring your Kleenexes, though. Enchantment is the biggest tearjerker since The Old Maid.
David Niven, aged up with white hair and wrinkles, lives alone and has clearly survived a life of sadness and regret. He learns of a blooming romance between his niece, Evelyn Keyes, and his former love's nephew, Farley Granger, and as the young lovers face their obstacles, Niven recounts his youthful love affair with Teresa Wright.
This is an incredibly beautiful film, with a love story that should be remembered and ranked up with the greatest classics, like Gone with the Wind and Casablanca. Unfortunately, this film has mostly gone unremembered through the years, and I can't understand why. With Hugo Friedhofer's beautiful score, a sensitive screenplay adaptation by John Patrick-writer of The Hasty Heart, Some Came Running, and Love is a Many-Splendored Thing-and fantastic performances by Niven and Wright, this should be a go-to classic on anyone's list. After a role like this, it's a wonder David Niven didn't play continuous romantic leads the remainder of his career. He and Teresa have a wonderful chemistry together, and with the infinite sadness in his eyes, it's no wonder I bawl my way through the movie.
There's an added tragedy from behind the scenes that, once known, makes you treasure this movie as one of David Niven's finest. He was recently widowed from a horrible accident, and while he was at rock-bottom struggling to raise his two young sons, he was forced back to work by Samuel Goldwyn. Many actors were encouraged to keep working in order to bury their grief, but this film must have been a great torture to film. As Niven falls in love with a beautiful, young, innocent girl on the screen and promises they'll always love each other, "even when we're old," he lives with the knowledge that the same promises he made to his wife will never come true. I don't know how he managed to survive rehearsals and filming, but there's no great mystery why he couldn't bear to be alone any longer. While filming Bonnie Prince Charlie abroad the following year, he immersed himself in a whirlwind romance, brought her home, and married her.
The preview is a great representation without giving anything away, a rare treat in old movie previews. If it tugs at your heart, rent the movie. You might bump it to the top of your list of cinematic romances. Bring your Kleenexes, though. Enchantment is the biggest tearjerker since The Old Maid.