Our only reason for watching this film was because of Douglas Sirk. The director specialized in this type of melodrama, creating extraordinary films. This offering is based on a James Cain story that appears to have been recycled to fit June Allyson's contract, which was about to expire. The fact Mr. Sirk was not too fond of this particular film, speaks volumes about why it did not jelled after all. The project had the right elements, but something did not go right in spite of having the great William Daniels as the cinematographer. In fact, this film reminds this viewer of a much better one, "Summertime" which dealt more or less with the same theme, and both had the presence of Rossano Brazzi.
The story has been told in different variations before. The somewhat naive American young woman goes to the postwar Europe finds love and romance, but mighty forces come between herself and the hunky conductor who was having his own problems with a sick wife. We all realize ;how the story is going to evolve because the best qualities of the unselfish Helen Banning will do the only decent thing she could do to make things all right for Tonio Fischer.
June Allyson was approaching forty when this film went into production. She always cast such a bland presence in her movies that her character is not helped by her approach. Rossano Brazzi, on the other hand, does a wonderful job as Tonio, although it is obvious there was no chemistry between him and Ms. Allyson. For all practical purposes, the film plays like a travelogue showing parts of Germany and Austria in beautiful colors thanks to Mr. Daniels.
The story has been told in different variations before. The somewhat naive American young woman goes to the postwar Europe finds love and romance, but mighty forces come between herself and the hunky conductor who was having his own problems with a sick wife. We all realize ;how the story is going to evolve because the best qualities of the unselfish Helen Banning will do the only decent thing she could do to make things all right for Tonio Fischer.
June Allyson was approaching forty when this film went into production. She always cast such a bland presence in her movies that her character is not helped by her approach. Rossano Brazzi, on the other hand, does a wonderful job as Tonio, although it is obvious there was no chemistry between him and Ms. Allyson. For all practical purposes, the film plays like a travelogue showing parts of Germany and Austria in beautiful colors thanks to Mr. Daniels.