Desire Me (1947)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Writers:

Zoe Akins (writer)
Leonhard Frank (play)

Release Date:

31 October 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War

Plot:

Shortly after WWII, flashbacks tell the story of Marise, her husband Paul, and Jean, who was imprisoned with Paul in a German camp...

Plot Keywords:

Escape | Death | WWII | Brittany | Love

Cast

Greer Garson	...	Marise Aubert
Robert Mitchum	...	Paul Aubert
Richard Hart	...	Jean Renaud
Morris Ankrum	...	Hector Martin
George Zucco	...	Father Donnard
Cecil Humphreys	...	Dr. Andre Leclair
David Hoffman	...	Alex (the postman)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Florence Bates	...	Mrs.Lannie (scenes deleted)
Clinton Sundberg	...	Salesman (scenes deleted)
Harry Woods	...	Joseph (scenes deleted)

Also Known As:

A Woman of My Own (USA) (pre-release title)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #11783, General Audience)

Filming Locations:

Victorine Ranch - Highway 1, Carmel, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

George Cukor and Mervyn LeRoy were among a number of directors who worked on this film without taking credit. Thus, leaving the film with no director's credit at all.

Quotes:

Jean Renaud: Only frightened people are religious.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Private Screenings: Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell" (1996)

It's a film as innocuous as its title...

Certainly this has to be ranked as one of the most forgettable films GREER GARSON and ROBERT MITCHUM ever participated in, a film that went from bad to worse once it was handed over from one director to another at least three times.

In the end, nobody wanted to take credit for it and it's easy to see why there is no "Directed by" credit on the screen. It's a mess. Not only did the directors quit, but ROBERT MONTGOMERY began filming in the Richard Hart role until he dropped out and was replaced.

The only redeeming feature of the film is the handsome seaside setting and house that Garson lives in, until a stranger comes along (RICHARD HART) to inform her that her husband (MITCHUM) is dead and that he was Mitch's best friend during World War II. Garson is soon offering Hart shelter and their relationship seems to be heading toward a romantic involvement when the very much alive Mitchum returns to town, seeking to resume his former life.

Actually, these are the ingredients for a potentially strong enough story--so one has to wonder why the film turned out so disastrously. Mitchum was reportedly annoyed with Garson when she required, according to him, "125 takes to say 'No'." (Knowing Mitchum, this could have been a slight exaggeration!!) Nevertheless, he often spoke disparagingly of the whole project.

Can't recommend this one unless you are a staunch Greer Garson fan and won't mind the punishment.