By the time this film was completed in April 1945, everyone knew the war in Europe was ending, and the propaganda war along with it, so the familiar patriotic stylistics suddenly seemed irritating - which could explain why it actually made a small loss at the box office.
We are looking at 24 hours in the life of an English village, run largely by the Women's Institute while the men are away, preparing for the visit of American First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. Rather in the style of 'Random Harvest', the story centres on a damaged veteran of the trenches (Eric Portman), still clinging to his old rank of Captain and a chestful of medals, having done nothing since, except drink and mope, supported by his loyal wife (Flora Robson) and comely daughter Meg (Sheila Sim).
Meg does not realise that she has been held back from emotional maturity, trapped in the past by her father's troubles, semi-engaged to a local farmer much too old for her, but half-wanting to marry a young officer (Geoffrey) who is abroad in his unit. When her father is arrested in a drunken incident, the story is suddenly brought to its climax, with Geoffrey making a surprise entry at a timely moment and persuading Meg to embrace the future, not the past.
Interesting to see a village matriarchy in operation, full of goodwill, but not without a little trouble in paradise. (Also that shrill high-speed chatter is rather over-theatrical). And a refreshing surprise to see Flora Robson in the wife-and-mother role. I'd never realised she could smile - very charmingly too!
April 1945, of course, was when Eleanor's husband Franklin D. Roosevelt died, quite suddenly, causing Hitler to go into his mad dance round the bunker, just a fortnight before his own suicide.
We are looking at 24 hours in the life of an English village, run largely by the Women's Institute while the men are away, preparing for the visit of American First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. Rather in the style of 'Random Harvest', the story centres on a damaged veteran of the trenches (Eric Portman), still clinging to his old rank of Captain and a chestful of medals, having done nothing since, except drink and mope, supported by his loyal wife (Flora Robson) and comely daughter Meg (Sheila Sim).
Meg does not realise that she has been held back from emotional maturity, trapped in the past by her father's troubles, semi-engaged to a local farmer much too old for her, but half-wanting to marry a young officer (Geoffrey) who is abroad in his unit. When her father is arrested in a drunken incident, the story is suddenly brought to its climax, with Geoffrey making a surprise entry at a timely moment and persuading Meg to embrace the future, not the past.
Interesting to see a village matriarchy in operation, full of goodwill, but not without a little trouble in paradise. (Also that shrill high-speed chatter is rather over-theatrical). And a refreshing surprise to see Flora Robson in the wife-and-mother role. I'd never realised she could smile - very charmingly too!
April 1945, of course, was when Eleanor's husband Franklin D. Roosevelt died, quite suddenly, causing Hitler to go into his mad dance round the bunker, just a fortnight before his own suicide.