Tyrone Power & Joan Fontaine in "This Above All" (1942)
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Published 2024-07-02
At the WAAF training camp, Prudence befriends Violet Worthing (Queenie Leonard), who soon fixes her up with Clive Briggs (Tyrone Power), an army friend of Violet's sweetheart, Joe (John Abbott). Unaware that Prudence is from aristocracy, Clive declares his distaste for all of England's upper class, but Prudence falls in love with him anyway. As their romance flourishes, Clive and Prudence go on their first military leave together, taking a seven-day vacation at the Dover Grand Hotel.
In Dover, Prudence runs into her Aunt Iris Cathaway (Gladys Cooper), but the two merely exchange unfriendly glances. Fearing that her aunt will tell her family about her affair with Clive and that she will be further ostracized by them, Prudence becomes distraught. Clive, too, begins to act strangely, yelling military orders in his sleep and becoming generally distracted.
Later, when Prudence reads the telegram that seemed to trigger Clive's unusual behavior, she learns only that his friend Monty (Thomas Mitchell) is coming to visit him. Prudence later learns that Clive deserted the army after being wounded at Dunkerque, and that Monty has come to return Clive to his regiment before he is officially listed as a deserter. Clive eventually confides in Prudence that he left the service because he disliked defending England's aristocracy. Prudence responds by giving Clive an impassioned lecture about the glory of England. Her speech brings tears to her eyes and drives Clive away.
Clive sets out on foot but does not get far before a farmer (Billy Bevan), mistaking him for a spy, assaults him. The bloodied Clive takes refuge at a nurse's home, but the nurse learns that he is a suspected spy and threatens to call the police. Clive then seeks help from a Vicar (Thomas Louden), who lectures Clive on faith and inspires him to return to his regiment.
Before turning himself in, however, Clive sends Prudence a message to meet him at Charing Cross so that they can be married. On his way to Charing Cross, though, Clive is arrested by military police and taken to headquarters. After pleading with his commander, Clive manages to secure a two-hour leave so that he can meet Prudence one last time. Clive's second attempt to get to Charing Cross in time to meet Prudence is stymied when he is wounded while rescuing a woman and her child from a burning building. Clive is rushed to a hospital, and as his life hangs in the balance, Prudence arranges an impromptu wedding. At Clive's bedside, a nurse, reading from Shakespeare's play Hamlet , says, "This above all: To thine own self be true," after which an air raid siren is heard and darkness descends on the room.
A 1942 American Black & White romance film directed by Anatole Litvak, produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, screenplay by R. C. Sherriff, adapted from Eric Knight's 1941 novel of the same name, cinematography by Arthur Miller, starring Tyrone Power, Joan Fontaine, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Stephenson, Nigel Bruce, Gladys Cooper, Philip Merivale, Sara Allgood, Alexander Knox, Queenie Leonard, Melville Cooper, Jill Esmond, Holmes Herbert, Denis Green, Arthur Shields, Dennis Hoey, Thomas Louden, Miles Mander, and Mary Field. Final screen appearance of Mrs. Wilfrid North.
Appearing in this film are no fewer than twenty performers who appeared in at least one of the Sherlock Holmes movies with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, the latter playing Ramsbottom.
Clive (né Vivian) James chose his name from this character.
The title comes from the famous line in William Shakespeare's "Hamlet," Act I, Scene III: "This above all, to thine own self be true."
Winner of the 15th ACADEMY AWARDS | 1943, Academy Award for Best Art Direction (Black-and-White). Art Direction: Richard Day, Joseph Wright; Interior Decoration: Thomas Little. It was nominated in several other categories, and was the only non-Best Picture Oscar nominee that year to be nominated for Best Editing.
"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60-minute radio adaptation of the movie on September 14, 1942, with Tyrone Power reprising his film role.
Soundtrack music:
"Loch Lomond" - Traditional
"Smiles" - Music by Lee S. Roberts
"Old Soldiers Never Die" - Traditional
"Keep the Home Fires Burning" - Music By Ivor Novello, Lyrics by Lena Guilbert Ford
The New York Times, described Anatole Litvak's engrossing romantic drama as "a taut and poignant war film" and "a very moving love story with a sensitive regard for tensile passions against a background of England at war".
Fontaine's radiant performance and Power's handsomeness make a fine romantic pairing, and this rises above propaganda to be enduring sweet and romantic entertainment.
All Comments (21)
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My English mother, June Edith Neal Marston Harris, joined the WAAFs in 1941 at age 16 after graduating with high honors from a private girls' school in Brokenhurst, England. Her mother was very unhappy about this but her father was supportive and signed for her. By the next year, age 17, she made Corporal. And the next year at age 18 she met my American Sailor father at a military dance in Cardiff, Wales. And at age 19 she married him in a 12th century Anglo-Saxon church, Eling St. Mary's, in her village of Totton. Mother was in the first crossing of GI War Brides in Feb. 1946 to NYC on the RMS Queen Mary which was still painted battleship gray from transporting US troops to England
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Perhaps I am being sensitive as age advance, the very end of this movie just quite touching make me cry somehow, thank you very much for the movie. They don't make movie like this anymore. Once again thanks.
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A grand movie from a very difficult time.
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I joined the Women's Army Corps in 1966. My parents did not want me to join. People had low opinions of women being in the military back then (some still do). I did not have as much freedom as Joan Fontaine's charter had in this movie. Women in the Army had to travel in groups of three (or more) back then. We were never allowed to go out alone after dark.
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A good film, worth watching
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Wonderful movie.
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I'm 72, and here is another gem that I have never seen. What a wonderful wartime film, dealing with so many profound subjects, from patriotism to social culture, to love and class barriers, reason and faith, and even Shakespeare! And so many wonderful character actors! Thank you for finding this film and uploading it! SUB SCRIBED
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Love it!!!
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My first time seeing this: these war movies make me think of my father...
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Nice movie first time watching this with the lovely Joan Fontaine Tyrone Power played his part well also the great Thomas Mitchell was as good as ever
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Fabulous, simply fabulous. Sobering to think this was made during the war it was set in.
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Joan Fontaine is a great, beautiful actress.
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Such a great movie 😢 !!!!!
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Thomas Mitchell superb as always.
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THOMAS MITCHELL! ❤ THOMAS MITCHELL! 😊 THOMAS MITCHELL!❤
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Not seen this movie yet.But due to good starcast,director,composer n photographer it tempts me watch.
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Dear Prudence, won’t you come out to play?
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Anguished through whole movie afraid for Cleve.....bless ALL the Men HEROES everyone.& the women did their part ......good ending..🎚️
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💚🙏😇🙏💚
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En español por favor!!!
