As you will surmise from the synopsis, this 1947 Wilding/Neagle film portrays the life of a well-to-do family, the Courtneys, from 1899-1945.This covers the period in English history from the Boer war, first and second world wars and how it affects the military Courtney family, their son, grandson and the women who marry into the family.Dame Anna Neagle doesn't consistently maintain her Irish colleen accent from the humble Irish maid in 1899 to when she becomes Lady Courtney.Her accent is rather the product of the 1930s drama school of stock Irish accents, actresses for the use of.It is rather a relief to us all when she can dispense with it and adopt her usual manner of speaking as it looks rather an effort for her.The film does however give Dame Anna the chance to show off her skill at dancing and reminded me a little of Noel Coward's "Cavalcade" as a troop of vignettes through a family history.As for Michael, I was humorously intrigued how he managed to retain his grand house in Curzon Street W.1. and still live in the grand manner, despite "losing his shirt" as a stockbroker in the great credit crash of October 29th 1929.He told Anna he would have to sell the house to pay off creditors - a weakness in the story.
One similarity with "Piccadilly Incident" (1946) was that in both films there was an enforced separation of Michael and Anna, the former through war and this film through social prejudice.The present film has a rather better outcome for Dame Anna.It is also quite a long film at 111 minutes and not easy to find in the UK.I had to win it from a Canadian rare dealer on eBay.Lovers of the many Wilding/Neagle films will be absorbed by this historical canter through the Courtney clan.I rated it 7/10.
