This Above All (1942)
Directed by Anatole Litvak
Genres - Drama |
Sub-Genres - Message Movie, War Romance, War Drama |
Release Date - May 12, 1942 (USA - Unknown), May 12, 1942 (USA) |
Run Time - 110 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
Eric Knight's wartime novel This Above All was given the Tiffany treatment in the this 20th Century Fox big-budgeter. Tyrone Power plays Clive Briggs, a conscientious objector from humble origins, who deserts the British Army because he doesn't believe in fighting to preserve his country's oppressive class structure. But Briggs is no coward, and he performs admirably in rescuing air-raid victims. Through the love of Prudence Cathaway (Joan Fontaine), a doctor's daughter and member of the women's air corps, Briggs realizes that love of country supersedes all social outrage. This Above All ends with Briggs seriously wounded, though given a good chance to survive. In the original novel, the hero not only dies, but also has a censor-baiting love affair with the Prudence character (who, of course, is as pure as the driven snow in the film).
Characteristics
Moods
Keywords
class-consciousness, patriotism, Britain, rescue, wound [injury], AWOL (Absent Without Leave), church, courage, recuperation, war, capture, love, surgery, desertion, responsibility, sacrifice, soldier, troops
