While completely ignored by the American Academy, This Happy Breed was one of the most successful films in England in 1944. When the movie starts, it seems like a British version of The Best Years of Our Lives, but as the story continues, it becomes much more of a domestic drama than a story of veterans' plight. It's one of the most fantastic, moving hearth-and-home films I've ever seen, and since I'm a classic movie aficionado, that's a very meaningful compliment.
Starring Robert Newton and Celia Johnson, it follows the ups and downs of one family during the years between the world wars. David Lean, a master director, and Noel Coward, usually known for his lighter comedies, bring an incredible drama to the screen. As it was created and released in the thick of WWII, an extra sadness is included, as audiences were watching the uncertainty in the theaters mirroring their own uncertainty at home.
Robert and Celia start the story young, happy, and relatively fresh as they move into their first home after the end of WWI. Bobbie's friend and fellow veteran, Stanley Holloway, is their neighbor. Together, the two families age and watch their children pursue their own paths, and they lean on each other during the terrible times; sometimes, reminiscing with dear friends is the only way to muddle through. One unique and fantastic element to the film is the makeup. The film spans twenty-five years, and Bobbie, Celia, and Stanley all age very realistically, as do the children: John Mills, Kay Walsh, Eileen Erskine, and John Blythe.
The chemistry between Bobbie and Celia is so natural, and while they are given very good lines to demonstrate their closeness, it's their acting that is the glue of the film. Neither roles require the actors to give over-the-top performances, but they're tour-de-force parts for both leads. It's a subtle, realistic movie, and they play subtle, realistic people. Without giving spoilers to the plot, it isn't really possible for me to fully complement Bobbie and Celia, but I will say this: at the end of the movie, you truly feel like you've just witnessed twenty-five years of their lives. You will be exhausted, and you'll be filled with awe of their talent.
Starring Robert Newton and Celia Johnson, it follows the ups and downs of one family during the years between the world wars. David Lean, a master director, and Noel Coward, usually known for his lighter comedies, bring an incredible drama to the screen. As it was created and released in the thick of WWII, an extra sadness is included, as audiences were watching the uncertainty in the theaters mirroring their own uncertainty at home.
Robert and Celia start the story young, happy, and relatively fresh as they move into their first home after the end of WWI. Bobbie's friend and fellow veteran, Stanley Holloway, is their neighbor. Together, the two families age and watch their children pursue their own paths, and they lean on each other during the terrible times; sometimes, reminiscing with dear friends is the only way to muddle through. One unique and fantastic element to the film is the makeup. The film spans twenty-five years, and Bobbie, Celia, and Stanley all age very realistically, as do the children: John Mills, Kay Walsh, Eileen Erskine, and John Blythe.
The chemistry between Bobbie and Celia is so natural, and while they are given very good lines to demonstrate their closeness, it's their acting that is the glue of the film. Neither roles require the actors to give over-the-top performances, but they're tour-de-force parts for both leads. It's a subtle, realistic movie, and they play subtle, realistic people. Without giving spoilers to the plot, it isn't really possible for me to fully complement Bobbie and Celia, but I will say this: at the end of the movie, you truly feel like you've just witnessed twenty-five years of their lives. You will be exhausted, and you'll be filled with awe of their talent.