I agree, it's an interesting point. However, it's also worth comparing the ending of this film with another Claudette Colbert film a year later (1944) - made while the war was still raging - "Since You Went Away." There Claudette's character has been kept waiting in uncertainty during the whole film to hear from her husband, who is overseas in the army, and at one point she hears that he has been reported missing in action. But in the last scene she learns that he is alive and well, and the final shot has her repeating his name "Tim", over and over - very similar to the last shot in "So Proudly We Hail." The latter film would have ended much more strongly if they had done the same thing - had her learn that John was alive and was writing to her that they would meet later at their farm. The uncertainty involved as to whether he is alive or dead is totally unncessary. It was a bad stumble on the part of the screenwriter(s), and sadly, the ending they chose in my opinion mars the film considerably. And btw, there are two references in the film to Superman - later, during a bombardment, one of the women is heard to say, "Maybe Superman IS here!" - rather ironic when you think of it. One last point, although I know it's somewhat off-topic. By watching this film you can see what a truly drop-dead gorgeous woman Barbara Britton was. Lord, those piercing blue eyes! What a lucky man her psychiatrist was, to have found her in his waiting room! At least he had the good sense to marry her. I recently saw her in "Champagne For Caesar," and was reminded once again what a stunner she was. It's a pity she didn't get better film parts; at least she got to star on TV with Richard Denning in "Mr. and Mrs. North," a series still very fondly remembered by baby boomers.
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geleafa
15 years ago
It is interesting you mentioning your opinion that the movie should have ended with her meeting John at the farm... Lux Radio Theater, after the movie had come out, did a radio dramatization of SPWH using the main stars of the movie as voice actors, anyway... in this version they ended it with the guy reading her the letter but in it John talks about the farm, and Davy's last words are a promise to go to the farm and wait for John & that she knew somehow he was alive and would come to her when the war was over or whatever. I thought ending it this way was a good compromise , as one viewer said having Davy and John get together in the end would have not resonated as much with the audience in those times when the war was still going on and women couldn't be sure of their loved ones coming back... yet the promise that she had hope he was still alive was better than the 'what the heck?' way the movie ended.
"Don't you know all gamblers die broke?"
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ilahilda
10 years ago
Since she looked up into the sky, I assumed he and Chee passed away.
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