So Well Remembered

Director: Edward Dmytryk Edward Dmytryk

Overview

So Well Remembered was the first of a proposed series of Anglo-American co-productions underwritten by Hollywood's RKO Radio Pictures and England's J. Arthur Rank. In one of his better postwar roles, John Mills stars as George Boswell, the editor of the newspaper in the small English mining town of Bowdley. Tirelessly fighting for fairer treatment and better working conditions for the miners, Boswell is sidetracked by his covetous, ambitious wife Olivia (Martha Scott), who hopes to maneuver her husband into Parliament. Eventually, Boswell gets his priorities in order, neglecting his campaign to help local doctor Whiteside (Trevor Howard) combat a diphtheria epidemic. When he loses his own child to the disease, a tragedy caused in part by his wife's selfishness, Boswell withdraws completely from his campaign -- and from life. Years pass before Boswell can find some purpose in his existence again, this time by preventing the still-unregenerate Olivia from destroying the happiness of her son (Richard Carlson), from a second marriage, and the son's sweetheart Julie (Patricia Roc), Dr. Whiteside's daughter. John Mills' 5-year-old daughter Juliet and infant daughter Hayley appear in bit parts. Though director Edward Dmytryk received plaudits from most critics for his work on So Well Remembered, there were those who insisted upon reading Dmytryk's perceived "pro-Red" sentiments in the screenplay -- which was actually adapted by John Paxton from a novel by James Hilton (who also narrates the picture).

Product Details

Release Date:	08/03/2010
UPC:	0883316270677
Original Release:	1947
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:54:00
Sales rank:	44,099

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

John Mills	George Boswell,Baby Julie
Martha Scott	Olivia
Trevor Howard	Dr. Richard Whiteside
Patricia Roc	Julie Morgan
Richard Carlson	Charles
Reginald Tate	Mangin
Beatrice Varley	Annie
Frederick Leister	Channing
Ivor Barnard	Spivey
Julian D'Albie	Wetherall
John Turnbull	Morris
Kathleen Boutall	Woman
Lyonel Watts	Mayor
Roddy Hughes	Librarian
James Hilton	Narrator
Sydney Benson	Actor
Rhona Sykes	Actor

Technical Credits

Edward Dmytryk	Director
Adrian Scott	Producer

Editorial Reviews

So Well Remembered is certainly not so well remembered by modern audiences, and there's no particular reason that it should be. While definitely not a bad film, it is also by no means a classic; rather, Remembered is one of those "in the middle" films that is an easy enough film to watch but which doesn't linger long in the memory. That's not to say that there are no memorable aspects to the film, however; the cast, for example, is strong. In the lad role, John Mills is his usual captivating self. Mills is exceptionally British here, which is exactly what the film calls for, and he handles the character's modulations between what is right and what is asked of him with great skill. As his ambitious and destructive wife, Martha Scott is far more than capable, and handles her ultimately unlikeable character with distinction. And Trevor Howard is quietly impressive as the doctor. Edward Dmytryk's direction is at its best in the quieter moments when he has a chance to gently explore his characters, but it gets a bit artificial when things move into high emotional gear and he's unable to keep the film from veering into soap opera. Pacing is also a problem, with much of the film dragging. Though it has its flaws, the contributions of the cast go a long way here.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler