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(Year refers to British release)
Running Time: 114 minutes
Black/White
Estimated Attendance: 10.3 million
Romantic war drama. Sergeant John Patterson (Dean Tagger), of the U.S. Air Force, billeted in the Grosvenor Square house of the Duke of Exmoor (Robert Morley), is invited to the Duke's castle and, after a cool beginning, comes to know and love his granddaughter, Lady Patricia Fairfax (Anna Neagle), now a W.A.A.F. corporal. Patricia returns his love, but is already engaged to an Englishman, Major David Bruce (Rex Harrison). The latter gives her up under protest; but John feels that he is in the wrong and ceases to see Patricia, who makes it up with David. Subsequently the Englishman, realising that she is really in love with John, does the noble thing in his turn and relinquishes her to the American, who, however, is killed in an air crash shortly after. The film ends with David and his paratroopers setting out for the Continent.
This production has been made with an eye on each side of the Atlantic, makes rather obvious fun of the differences between our customs, and includes such striking contrasts as a ducal ball and jitterbugging at the Rainbow Club. Though it is pleasing to see the real (rather than a Hollywood) London and rural England, it is a pity that the middle-class sergeant from Arizona had to fall in love with an aristocrat whose home and background are almost as unlike those of most English people's as the average American's. Anna Neagle is an attractive Patricia; Dean Jagger and Rex Harrison are good as the opposing lovers; Robert Morley makes a nice old man of the Duke, and there is a strong supporting cast. Direction is good, but the film is too long, and interest in it flags at times.
Synopsis and Review from Monthly Film Bulletin Vol.12 No.8 June 1945 p.69
The Monthly Film Bulletin was published by the BFI between 1934 and 1991. Initially aimed at distributors and exhibitors as well as filmgoers, it carried reviews and details of all UK film releases. In 1991, the Bulletin was incoporated into Sight and Sound magazine.