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Portrait of Jennie - Beautiful song sung by David Wayne uncredited?

posted 8 years ago by mcannady1
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Movie girl: I have loved the beauty and mystical aspects of this film ever since I saw it as a child on TV in the 60's It still has the power to move me every time I watch it. In addition to great camera work, settings, marvelous performances by all, there is a wonderful soundtrack running throughout.

A mystery to me which prevails just now when I checked on it on IMDB. I have a query about a beautiful song which I think was sung by David Wayne.

When Eben nearly drowns and is recovering in Miss Spinney's home, his friend Gus (played by David Wayne) visits and brings his harp. He sits at his bedside and sings (and plays) the beautiful and poignant "He's Gone Away". I do not see any mention of this when looking at the sountrack info. Of course, the other beautiful classical music is mentioned and greatly enhanced the film as well, but I am certain of the song.

I wonder if anyone else wondered about this. THat said, the movie is marvelous to see and the time gaps are portrayed beautifully and mysteriously. Always, Jennie is there and seems to follow Eben at times.

[–] bastasch8647 7 years ago

Sorry, I don't know the origins of the song or if it exists in CD format. Just to nitpick, you wrote,

When Eben nearly drowns and is recovering in Miss Spinney's home, his friend Gus (played by David Wayne) visits and brings his harp. He sits at his bedside and sings (and plays) the beautiful and poignant "He's Gone Away".

Actually, the harp/song scene occurs much earlier in the film. The final scene contains only Cotten and Barrymore (the old Captain Cobb has already left the room). The harp scene precipitates Cotten's trip to Land's End because it is in the scene that Wayne persuades Cotten to inquire after Jennie at the convent, thus setting in motion his trip to Land's End.

I wish a complete soundtrack recording of this score existed...

[–] mcannady1 7 years ago

Movie girl: THanks for letting me know. I had not seen the film for a long time, but the great song stayed in my mind. I had forgotten the sequence of things. I have it in my collection and will watch again. Very touching, that scene with Ethel and Joseph Cotten. The film had real class and splendor.

Interesting footnote. When I was in high school (last year = smile) which seems like not long ago, we sang He's Gone Away in Girls Glee Club. I still remember how how lovely it sounded, but sad like in the film. I do remember toward the end of the song it said "over yandro", a quaint way of saying "over yander?" The beauty of an old-fashioned song.

AS for Jennie, all of the characters were class and picked with great care. Of course, Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten shone the most, buth Ethel Barrymore and Cecil KEllaway and many others were marvelous in the cast.

Yes, I wish there was a soundtrack available too! A friend just sent me the soundtrack to Song of Bernadette which was fabulous. Jennifer Jones was superb in that film too.