Am I Missing Something?

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

More focus has been placed on the goings on behind the story rather than what really should have been the focus. I must say that the set-up of this film was dull as dust with the romance of two journalists played by the very attractive Lana Turner and Sean Connery. He is suddenly killed in a plane crash just as the war ends and Turner finds herself in the village where she finds herself a guest of his charming wife Glynis Johns and their young son. Guilt and memories set Turner up for a break-down. Unfortunately, this isn't an affair to remember even if the scenes with Johns become very touching. That lovely squeaky voice and absolute charming demeanor make you want to hug her from the moment you meet her and it only serves to show what an ice princess Turner was. She could be certainly lovely and dominate attention, but a coldness oozes off her lovely shoulders showing that she was never allowed to grow past that sweater girl image and truly become a woman. Barry Sullivan, top billed in the male lead, seems embarrassed with his lack of a role. If it wasn't for Ms. Johns, this would be a true turkey.

In the last days of WWII, an American journalist (Lana Turner) falls quickly and deeply in love with a British reporter (Sean Connery). Just as she begins planning their future together, he admits he's already married.This romance/melodrama is worth watching for the very young and charismatic Connery and the equally young and talented Glynis Johns, who plays his wife. Lana Turner, on the other hand, makes the movie almost unwatchable. Her platinum hair, thick make-up, and glamorous wardrobe don't fit a wartime correspondent and her acting is terrible. Every line is delivered in a breathy, petulant voice with indulgent/silly over-acting. Several supporting actors, including Barry Sullivan, are excellent, but Lana almost destroys the movie. I've watched it twice and fell asleep both times. (Re-watching it was a chore.) The black and white movie is partially filmed in a charming English village but stock footage and fake outdoor sets detract greatly; the overall look is cheap. A silly, overwrought script that never really touches the heart makes this a movie for Sean Connery fans only.

Super-mega spoiler coming up! Don't say I didn't warn you! While some might have been surprised by a romance between Sean Connery and Lana Turner due to the difference in their ages, I am sure most Brits actually were more surprised by hearing the Scottish Connery saying he was from Cornwall--in the very southeast corner of Britain. The accents are so very different, I could just imagine the Brits watching the film getting a bit peeved--though at the time, most Americans wouldn't have noticed.The film is set in the latter portion of WWII. The first few minutes are great--very tense and I felt myself on edge as a man disarmed an unexploded V-2 rocket! Turner and Connery are there because they are war correspondents and it seems they have fallen deeply in love...or at least Turner has. In their scenes together, you can detect a hint of apprehension in Connery. So, when he later divulges that he is married, the audience isn't terribly surprised--but Turner is crushed. But, after thinking about it, she shows she is also a person without character--and STILL wants to marry Connery (I would have preferred her kicking him in the crotch--but that didn't happen). Then, after he agrees to ask for a divorce, he's unexpectedly killed in a plane crash.Now if you were in Turner's situation, what would you do? Yes, you'd go off to Cornwall to see where Connery lived--and even see his wife and son incognito. This is all a bit creepy and weird--and against her doctor's advice. When she arrives, she is befriended by Connery's widow (Glynnis Johns)--a nice lady who you can't help but like. However, as Turner has some weird sort of Hollywood ailment following Connery's death, she wanders outside of Johns' home later and faints! She clearly isn't do well and so she is invited to stay with Johns for several days. Talk about awkward! When Turner's boss and ex-boyfriend (Barry Sullivan) learns where she is and what she's doing, he's upset and rushes to Cornwall to retrieve her. After all, he reasons that sooner or later the wife is going to learn the truth if Turner stays much longer. Oddly, however, Connery's old assistant (Terence Longdon--who wants Turner to leave ASAP) turns out to be the one who convinces Johns that perhaps Connery was cheating on her. That's because whenever she mentions her dead husband, the assistant looks away and changes the subject--and she suspects something was amiss. What will come of all this? See the film.While it's hard to believe the plot, hard to like Turner (she is so selfish and a bit goofy) and the music a bit overdone, the film is an interesting soap opera. And, it ended very well. In other words, I enjoyed it even though I know it was a rather flawed film. In fact, Turner made quite a few flawed soaps during this era--and yet they were mostly very enjoyable.

Sean Connery and Lana Turner are journalists who fall in love, in this enjoyable war time melodrama. Connery plays Mark Trevors, a radio reporter for the BBC and Turner plays Sara Scott, posted in London working for an American newspaper. Their relationship, which is never fully developed, has a sting in the tail. The second half of the story takes place in Cornwall, and although filmed in black and white, the scenery is still alluring. Turner, who gets most of the screen time, gives a decent performance and Connery, who at the time was relatively unknown, demonstrates the charisma which makes him a potent screen presence.