Both Tyrone Power and Joan Fontaine gave great performances in great films, especially Fontaine ('Rebecca' being a note-worthy example). Anatole Litvak is not a personal favourite director of mine, but he did make a lot of solid interesting films and it is hard to not appreciate him for making talented actors unknown early on into international stars (i.e. Charles Boyer) or making other actors more popular when they somewhat started to lose it (i.e. Ingrid Bergman with 'Anastasia').
Litvak may not be at his very best, though he does more than credibly here and deserves credit for maintaining Fontaine's popularity and stretching Power's acting ability, and 'This Above All' is not quite my definition of a great film. It is though very well done in a lot of areas, while Fontaine gives one of her better performances of this point of her career and Power excels in a different type of role for him. A personal favourite 'This Above All' may not be, but it was difficult to not appreciate it.
There is not an awful lot wrong with 'This Above All'. It is agreed though that some of the dialogue is on the preachy side, some of Fontaine's especially.
Some of the central relationship seemed a bit rushed with more time needed to develop and Prudence's decision making regarding what she still sees in Clive, considering how he behaves here, doesn't really ring true agreed.
Power though smolders in a difficult role that is tougher, darker sort of role and a completely different kettle of fish to his usual. Fontaine is touchingly noble and their chemistry scintillates and brings a lump to the throat at its best. The supporting cast also do well, Thomas Mitchell and Gladys Cooper always brought class to their roles and Nigel Bruce doesn't bumble or bluster about like he did in some of his other roles (such as his Dr Watson in the Sherlock Holmes films). Litvak's direction has style and atmosphere.
As does the photography, which is sumptuous and at other times eerie. The music is hauntingly beautiful, while enough of the script is intelligently written and the story poignant and with some tension to stop it from getting sudsy.
Concluding, not perfect but the cast particularly, and primarily the leads, make 'This Above All' worth seeing. 7/10
