Since You Went Away (1944)

A Short Review.  A 1944 sentimental blockbuster, about an upper-class American Family on the Home-front. It gathered 9 Oscar nominations - but its now forgotten. Its easy to see why. At 2 hours and 50 minutes, its far too long for a B&W domestic drama.  And there's too much Hollywood fakery - including nonsense about the Statue of Liberty*, a Minister quoting the Star-spangled banner, and some far-too-cheery disabled vets.  OTOH, some of the acting is excellent: Claudette Colbert, as the lonely wife, Monty Woolsey as the old man who lodges with her, and Jennifer Jones and Shirley Temple as the daughters**. But Robert Walker has zero chemistry with Jones and is too old/odd*** for the role, while Joseph Cotten alternates between blandness and giving off a  creepy "Uncle Charlie" vibe.  Summary:  Too long, too talky, and too fake****. When focused on the Walker-Jones romance it lost me all together.  But Colbert and Woolsey are good. Overall, well-made - but not my cup of tea.  Rating ** 1/2

Notes * -  In 1944, having a foreigner quote the statue of liberty poem and talk about"freedom"  was supposed to stoke Americans vanity and make us feel good.  If you had suggested it meant "open borders" - you'd have been called a traitor.
** - Agnes Moorehead is also good as the selfish, "Don't-be-like her" friend who hoards food and deals on the black-market.
*** =  Walker always strikes me as odd. Which made him perfect in Strangers on a Train or as the villain in Vengeance Valley and My Son John.  From reading his bio, the weirdness came from real life.
**** = The NYT's Bosely Crowther laughed at Colbert & company for having such a  luxurious house and massive wardrobe on a US Captain's salary. But the female audiences had no desire to see Colbert in drab clothes and a small, tacky, house.