DVD Review: I’ll Be Seeing You (1944)

Released at the end of 1944, “I’ll Be Seeing You” was inspired by the popular song from the 1938 Broadway play “Right This Way.” The play was a resounding flop, but the song became a hit, and later a standard. The song’s inspiration was central to this film adaption of Charles Martin’s book “Double Furlough”

Kino Lorber has released the Selznick production on blu ray, nice restored, and featuring fine acting by Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotton, Shirley Temple, and a host of familiar supporting players.

Movies about the homefront were perhaps even more popular than war pictures during World War Two, as American moviegoers could better relate to the characters. Soldiers on leave, families dealing with the impact of the battles overseas, and other such themes permeated some of the better movies of the era, including Selznick’s “Since You Went Away,” recently reviewed on blu ray on this page.

“I’ll Be Seeing You” is not the epic the other film is, nor is it quite as sentimental. This is a romantic drama with a noirish underying theme that features Cotton as a wacked-out army vet whose hospitalization from shell shock has allowed a ten day leave to confront his troubled mind. On a train he meets the character played by Ginger Rogers, a woman whose nefarious past includes a manslaughter charge and a prison sentence that is to continue after a good-behavior furlough to spend Christmas with relatives. Of course each lies to the other about their circumstances.

“Since You Went Away” had been released the previous summer and was a huge hit for Selznick. “I’ll Be Seeing You” was even bigger at the box office, being made for only 1.5 million and making four times as much.

Now, in retrospect, we approach the film for its reflection of the family during the war, and how the wholesome good American would sometimes hide serious issues. It also exhibited how the brave, victorious soldiers also endured emotional hardships that promised to have a lasting impact.

Some sources indicate direction was begun by George Cukor, but completed by William Dieterle. Others claim that Dieterle directed all but one scene; a scene that displeased Selznick, so he had Cukor come in and helm it. “I’ll Be Seeing You” was the first of Selznick’s releases through his Vanguard Films production company, for which he hired Dore Schary to oversee. Selznick and Schary clashed a lot during the production, but somehow a good film was the result.

Shirley Temple can be singled out here. As also with “Since You Went Away,” Temple showed that when given a good role, she could offer a strong, believable, and nuanced performance. It is unfortunate that audiences at the time so completely identified her with lifting their spirits during the Depression, they were unable to as fully embrace her in more grownup roles.

The blu ray from Kino Lorber offers an audio commentary by film historians Kat Elinger and Samm Deighan, as well as the film’s theatrical trailer. A brisk 85 minute running time, a solid narrative, tight direction, and emotionally charged performances all combine to make this a fine movie drama of its era.

The blu ray is available here.