If Winter Comes

This MGM film from 1947 was based on a fine book from the 1920s set in the World War One era. That book, and the silent film originally made from it (which I think is lost) were extremely popular in their day, though largely forgotten now.

The story, with spiritual-religious overtones, is about Mark Sabre, a man who is truly doing his best to live according to his principles.

It's set in a small English village, where, despite being misunderstood and even persecuted for his humanitarian actions, Sabre carries on according to his values. In the course of events, he loses his job, marriage, even his health, but refuses to surrender or lose his soul, as it were.

The updating of the story from one war to another (World War Two) seems rather arbitrary. It should work, but the whole thing had more validity in the earlier period. I'm not sure why.

There's also something slightly off about the tone of the production. There's not enough subtlety, especially in the rather heavy-handed direction (Victor Saville). Some of the supporting characters aren't very well rounded - especially when they're the less likable ones. Angela Lansbury as Sabre's wife and Reginald Owen as his boss fall into this category. They're almost hissable villains, at times.

Deborah Kerr and Janet Leigh, on the other hand, come across better as more likeable and principled people in Sabre's life.

Walter Pidgeon is meant to carry the film, more or less (Kerr, the leading lady - though excellent - has less screen time). As an actor, Pidgeon is, as always, good, but still not in the category of a Ronald Colman or a Robert Donat. He's also too old for the part, and (though it's not that important), not actually English.

Nonetheless, it's a compelling story, and, while the film is no masterpiece, the basic plot and premise of the original novel carry it along and hold the interest.

This film begins in England...just a few months before World War II begins in Europe. Mark (Walter Pigeon) and Mabel Sabre (Angela Lansbury) have been married three years--and it turns out he married her on the rebound. His old fiancée, Nona (Deborah Kerr) has just returned to her home town....the first time since she broke Mark's heart. Mark and Nona are foolish, as the start spending time together alone 'as old friends'. Not surprisingly, however, it stirs up feelings within them--dangerous feelings for both their marriages. Soon, however, Mark pushes Nona away and remains true to his wife.

Over time, it becomes painfully obvious that Mark is a very nice guy. While his wife is easy to dislike since she's so unpleasant, he wants to fulfill his obligations to her and the marriage. He also is very kind to a young neighbor, Effie (Janet Leigh)--as she lives with a puritanical and tyrannical father. When Effie becomes pregnant and is thrown out of her home, Mark invites her to live with them. This throws Mabel into a nastier than usual mood. She verbally abuses her servants and so they quit, then she lets Mark know that Mark must do nothing to help Effie. Mark chooses, instead, to tell his wife to get out...she's gone too far.

After young Effie moves in, Mark's boss uses this as an excuse to break his contract by firing him. They claim he's violated a morals clause. Can things get worse in this very soapy film....oh, yeah! The moralistic town begins to boil like a cauldron...why and what happens is something you'll need to see for yourself. Be aware, however, that it is a bit racy for a 1940s film.

While you do feel sorry for Mark because he's such a decent guy, as you watch you might also feel that he's incredibly foolish and makes many dumb choices. Clearly he's backed himself into a corner and now it looks like everyone is ready to tear him to pieces.

Despite Mark being a bit dumb (and by the end he seems like a TOTAL idio), the film is pretty good. As I mentioned above, it is very soapy--like a traditional soap opera with LOTS of salacious elements. But it works because the acting is so good--otherwise the film might have come off as too over the top and perhaps even silly. Worth seeing but blunted a bit because Mark was just too nice--almost a putz in the film. Otherwise I might have scored it a bit higher.

Good deeds better be their own reward since they can easily backfire as the movie shows. Poor Mark Sabre (Pidgeon) undergoes something of a mid-life dedication to doing good for others above everything else. Maybe it's a reaction to his cold-hearted wife (Lansbury) or renewed affection for now married former flame Nona (Kerr). Whatever the reason, circumstances are conspiring to ruin him because of his kindness. So how will things finally sort out.

It's the kind of production MGM specialized in—classy players in classy surroundings (British). Nonetheless, the topic of unwed motherhood was rather daring for its time, figuring quietly but importantly in the plot here. It's Britain 1939 and civil society is responding to WWII mobilization, including the small town of Pennygreen, whose sons are suddenly marching off to war. While on the homefront, volunteers are flocking to boost civil defense.

The movie's first part meanders some, appearing to head in one direction— namely, straightening out Sabre's love life. But then his lady-love Kerr largely disappears from screen, gone into civil defense. At the same time, the second part changes direction, picking up in suspense, when the unlucky Effie enters the picture. Because of Sabre's selfless attitude, we can't be sure how the movie will end. Still, I wonder if there isn't a backstory to Kerr's abrupt absence and the resulting shift of direction.

Anyway, in my book, a youthful Leigh steals the film with a highly sensitive turn as the star-crossed Effie. It's easy to see why she climbed the Hollywood ladder so quickly. At the same time, the unknowns playing High Jinx and Low Jinx manage to spark proceedings with their imaginative character concepts. Of course, vets like Pigeon and Kerr come through on cue, while Lansbury's stony wife would send any guy packing.

All in all, it's well done soap opera with a few surprises that should please fans of tangled relationships.

Despite some of the negative reviews on this site, I really enjoyed this 1947 film, which is set in England right before war is declared in Europe.

Walter Pidgeon is Mark Sabre, a successful writer of children's books, who works at a prominent publishing house. He is well respected and liked in the small town of Penneygreen, where he lives. Though he is a shareholder in the company, he will never be made partner because his boss thinks that Mark's political views are too radical. In fact, he'd love it if Mark weren't even in the company. But the only way he can get rid of him is if Mark violates the morals clause in his contract.

Mark married the formal, somewhat cold Mabel (Angela Lansbury) on the rebound. Now his former love, Nona (Deborah Kerr) returns to town with her husband after a long absence. Nona and Mark realize that they are still in love, but decide for the moment that they can't act on their feelings.

Mark's situation is complicated by a young pregnant woman, Effie (Janet Leigh) who turns to Mark for help after her father turns her out. Mark takes the girl in, and Mabel, believing him to be the father, leaves him. A scandal erupts, and Mark's career and reputation hang in the balance.

"If Winter Comes" is an absorbing drama with good performances. Walter Pidgeon was a solid leading man and is sympathetic and strong here as the principled Mark; as the nasty Mabel, Angela Lansbury, then only 21, is very effective. With darker hair and the way her makeup is done, Deborah Kerr continues to remind me of Maureen O'Hara in her early films. She gives a lovely performance, a good juxtaposition to Lansbury's judgmental, snobbish Mabel. As Effie, Janet Leigh justifies her discovery by Norma Shearer; she sports a good English accent and gives a heartfelt portrayal. Binnie Barnes, Dame May Witty, Reginald Owen, Hugh French, and Dennis Hoey round out the excellent supporting cast.

Recommended, and not only to people who liked Mrs. Miniver.

Set in a small English town just before the beginning of WW2, the story follows the trials and tribulations of Mark Sabre (Walter Pidgeon), a good, decent man married to the shrewish Mabel (Angela Lansbury). He's secretly in love with the also-married Nona Tybar (Deborah Kerr), but both are hesitant to make a move forward. When the war breaks out, Mark discovers that young Effie Bright (Janet Leigh) is pregnant, and the father is a mystery that she won't divulge. Forced out onto the streets by her religious father, Mark agrees to take Effie into his home, much to the rage of Mabel, and the condemnation of his fellow townsfolk.

The overstuffed script reveals the material's literary roots, with perhaps one or two too many minor characters for the 90+ minute running time. I get the feeling this was supposed to be a an Oscar contender for Walter Pidgeon, but he's not quite up to challenge, faltering in the film's last act with some amateurish acting. 19-year-old Janet Leigh, in only her second film, seems to have had trouble with her British accent as much of her dialogue is noticeably looped. Poor Angela Lansbury was only 22, and she auditioned for the role Leigh got, but was instead cast as the disagreeable wife of 50-year-old Pidgeon. Kerr often seems like an afterthought, a victim of the script trying to do too much. The clash of old morals mixed with small-minded people and small-town gossip would make this a good addition to a triple bill including My Reputation and Cass Timberlane.