White Cliffs of Dover
by Clarence Brown

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VHS Movie Reviews of White Cliffs of Dover

Movie Review: Good Film, But Little Action, Long on Talk
Summary: 3 Stars

Movie Review: A ll the strong young boys...
Summary: 5 Stars

Director: Clarence Brown
Format: Black & White
Studio: Warner Studios
Video Release Date: April 28, 1993

Cast:

Irene Dunne ... Susan Dunn Ashwood
Alan Marshal ... Sir John Ashwood
Roddy McDowall ... John Ashwood II (Age l6)
Frank Morgan ... Hiram Porter Dunn
Van Johnson ... Sam Bennett
C. Aubrey Smith ... Colonel
Dame May Whitty ... Nanny
Gladys Cooper ... Lady Jean Ashwood
Peter Lawford ... John Ashwood II (Age 24)
John Warburton ... Reggie, Brother
Jill Esmond ... Rosamund, Sister
Brenda Forbes ... Gwennie, Boarding House Maid
Norma Varden ... Mrs. Bland, Boarding House Prop.
Guy D'Ennery ... Curate in Boarding House
George Davis ... Boots
Tom Drake ... American Soldier at Bombed-out Bandstand
Herbert Evans ... Footman
Arthur Gould-Porter ... Capt. Portage
Gary Gray ... Boy at dinner table
Lumsden Hare ... The Vicar
Keith Hitchcock ... Duke of Waverly (Dance)
Charles Irwin ... Farmer Kenney
George Kirby ... Old Man
Nelson Leigh ... British Naval Officer
Adolf E. Licho ... Frenchman at Riviera Train Station
Miles Mander ... Major Loring (Hospital)
Lal Chand Mehra ... Indian Student in Boarding House
Jimmie Menzies ... Telegraph Boy
Leo Mostovoy ... Bandmaster (Riviera)
Gavin Muir ... Capt. Griffiths
Norbert Muller ... Dietrich
Steven Muller ... Gerhard
Wilson Benge ... Chauffeur
Arthur Shields ... Benson, Ashwood Butler
Ian Wolfe ... Skipper of Honeymoon Vessel
Matthew Boulton ... Immigration Officer
Edmund Breon ... Major Bancroft
Clifford Brooke ... Indian Major in Boarding House
Eldon Burkett ... Twin in Boarding House
Harry Allen ... English Cabby
Charles Coleman ... Capt. Davis (Trenches)
Clyde Cook ... Jennings, Buddy at Riviera
Alec Craig ... Billings
Bunny Gordon ... John (6 months)
Vera Graaff ... Duchess of Waverly
Ethel Griffies ... Woman on Train (Draft)
Joy Harrington ... Margaret, Nurse
Molly Lamont ... Helen, Fiancee at the Piano
Doris Lloyd ... Plump Lady at Boarding House
June Lockhart ... Betsy (age 18)
Emily Massey ... Elegant Lady in Boarding House
Ottola Nesmith ... Orderly
Jean Prescott ... Mrs. Kenney
Mabel Row ... French Maid (Riviera)
Anita Sharp-Bolster ... Miller, Ashwood Maid
Elizabeth Taylor ... Betsy (Age l0)
Ann Curzon ... Miss Lambert
Kay Deslys ... Blonde Woman
Isobel Elsom ... Mrs. Bancroft, Sister of Lady Jean
Emily Fitzroy ... Spinster in Boarding House

The story of an American girl, Susan Dunn Ashwood (Irene Dunne), who marries a young British lord, Sir John Ashwood (Alan Marshal), who then goes to war with his regiment in the First World War, and is killed. But his widow has his son, who grew up to fight in the Second World War in his father's regiment, in the family tradition.

This is a great classic, which explores the close kinship between the British and American people and their shared sacrifices, as well as some of their their historical differences. The film was made in 1944, while the United States and Great Britain were again fighting side by side on the European continent to free the world from Nazi oppression, as they had in 1914-18 against the same enemy, only an earlier generation.

Not a history lesson, but an interesting drama, with actors and actresses who were stars of the American screen during those war years. It was a very popular film in its time, and is still worth watching.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre
author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

Movie Review: Almost As Good As MRS. MINIVER
Summary: 5 Stars

Clarence Brown directed several other good films including THE YEARLING and NATIONAL VELVET. He received six Academy Award nominations but never won an Oscar during his long career. Surprisingly THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER received no nominations in 1943.

Movie Review: The White Cliffs of Dover video
Summary: 4 Stars

Movie Review: Wonderful tear jerker beautifully put together
Summary: 5 Stars

This beautiful film never fails to move me tremendously and I always screen it on ANZAC DAY which in Australia is a day on which we celebrate and remember our brave soldiers achievements. The film is based on the celebrated poem "The White Cliffs" and is narrated by Irene Dunne at intervals throughout the story in a beautiful moving prose.

What a story it is!!! Covering two world wars it tells of the life of a young American woman who comes to England originally for two weeks and ends staying a lifetime, who marries, loses her husband in the conflict of WW1 and lives to see her only beloved son suffer the same fate in WW2. The incredibly moving and sensitive way the story unfolds will have you riveted from beginning to end and the talented director Clarence Brown never lets the massive story lag for one minute with his sensitive direction and obvious love for the material.

Surprisingly this classic film is not as well known as other famous wartime sagas like "Mrs. Miniver" and "Since You Went Away" but I find it so much more arresting and memorable. Certainly this feeling is engendered because of the simply wonderful cast assembled for a story that covers almost 40years. Irene Dunne, so memorable in classics like "The Awful Truth", has in this film the role of a lifetime and she is superb. Never have I loved her more than in the truly beautiful scenes she shares with Roddy McDowell who plays her son. And with Dame May Witty, Frank Morgan, the brilliant Gladys Cooper, and Alan Marshall in a knockout performance the production is blessed with A class talents displayed to perfection. One of the smaller parts is taken by a very young Elizabeth Taylor and these couple of scenes in a role for Elizabeth, pre "National Velvet" really shows her incredible beauty and very sweet persona to perfection. Her interactions with the Roddy McDowall character of Sir John really show a special chemistry between the two child performers who became life long friends.

The production side of "The White Cliffs of Dover" is exceptional and considering the inability to film in England because of the war it has captured that English feel perfectly. Hollywood always seemed to be able to create that special English feel in its productions at this time.

"The White Cliffs of Dover" is an incredible experience for those of you who like good heartfelt sentimental dramas. It is my favourite wartime film and I discover new things to admire about it with each screening.

Classics Video

• Genres > Drama
• Military & War > By Theme > Women During Wartime
• Drama
• World War I
• World War II
• Drama - General