Enchantment (1948) Reviews

• Handsome, tastefully produced romance with a warm glow...

  Doylenf2006-08-21

  The 1940s seemed to be the decade of the romantic "women's films" featuring stars like Bette Davis, Merle Oberon, Olivia de Havilland and others. And Samuel Goldwyn had the good taste to hire the best script writers, the best cinematographers, the best musicians, and the best available actors to play in all of his films. None was more romantic than ENCHANTMENT and it has a warm glow about it, despite being a tale of unrequited love whereby an elderly man (DAVID NIVEN in convincing age make-up) recalls his younger days and his sweetheart (TERESA WRIGHT) who leaves him because of a misunderstanding caused by his neurotic sister (JAYNE MEADOWS). When a young woman ambulance driver (EVELYN KEYES), who happens to be his niece, comes to stay in the grand old house during the London blitz of World War II, he advises her not to make the same mistake he did in following his true love. Result: a happy ending for Keyes and her pilot lover FARLEY GRANGER when she goes rushing after him during an air raid. The tale is told in a clever use of flashbacks from one generation to the other, and all of it is photographed in crisp B&W splendor by Gregg Toland with a quietly effective musical score by Hugo Friedhofer. It's a handsomely mounted production, tastefully done without overdoing the sentimentality of the tale. LEO G. CARROLL is excellent as Niven's servant, realistically aged for the part of the tale that takes place in the present. Highly recommended as a quality picture of its kind. It's also a sad reminder of the fact that after leaving Samuel Goldwyn under the contract system, TERESA WRIGHT's screen career floundered and she soon found that she had to work for lesser salaries in films not worthy of her presence. She became a free agent but admitted that it turned out to be a huge mistake.

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• A wonderful film!

  caja09082002-03-29

  "Enchantment" seems to be one of those movies which has fallen through the cracks in terms of being appreciated. The story is told in a very unique way which keeps you totally involved. The cast, headed by David Niven and Teresa Wright is great. And Jayne Meadows is excellent! I would highly commend this movie and a good bag of popcorn. If you have the chance to buy the film...do it!!

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• beautiful and touching

  MartinHafer2006-05-26

  This is a lovely tale set in England during the blitz. An American servicewoman (Evelyn Keyes) stops by the house of her elderly uncle (David Niven). At first the uncle is pretty grumpy but he relents and lets her stay in his home. A little later, his nephew (Farley Granger) from Canada also stops by and much of the rest of the film is spent going back and forth in flashbacks telling the story of Niven and his step-sister, Lark (Teresa Wright), and their abortive plans to marry. Their plans are marred by the exceptionally nasty older sister of Niven, played with gusto by Jayne Meadows. In the end, the story becomes a wistful tale of what might have been. At the same time, a romance blooms between Granger and Keyes, but Keyes is hesitant. But then Niven intervenes to illustrate how his regrets in love have haunted him and convinces Keyes to literally chase after Granger in the film's emotional conclusion. The film works so well for many reasons. First, the makeup is great--the stars really were aged well and you'd have almost thought that Niven and his butler, Leo G. Carroll were really old men when the movie was made. Second, the acting was terrific--especially the wonderful job done by young Gigi Perreau as Lark as a child. Her expression was amazing and she handled the job well. Third, the music, cinematography and direction were beautifully and lovingly done. A first-class job all the way.

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• Extremely Original Storytelling Technique

  aimless-462007-04-29

  58 years before "Monster House" - a film about a neighborhood terrorized by a house - there was "Enchantment" (1948); a film narrated by a house. I'm not kidding; the house provides a brief bookend voice-over commentary; introducing the story and then wrapping things up at the conclusion. Fortunately this house is much better behaved than its 2006 successor because 95% of the film takes place under its roof. The modest set means that second-to-none cinematographer Gregg Toland's expertise is somewhat wasted. There wasn't much for him to apply himself to here other than some interesting lighting and a series of interesting match cut transitions (more about these later). "Enchantment" is a romance, more precisely two romances as the film tells the story of wartime romances in a London family during both the WWI and WWII. Set in 1944, the film opens with retired General Roland (Rollo) Dane (a convincingly aged David Nivin) pining away over his lost opportunity for true love. Upon the death of his sister Selina he moved back into his boyhood home because it contains memories of his lost love Lark (Teresa Wright). Lark was an orphan his family adopted when she was eight. Rollo and Lark fell in love when they grew up but shrewish sister Selina managed to derail the romance. Lark marries someone else and Rollo pursues a career in the Army. They never see each other again. Enter niece Grizel (Evelyn Keyes-Scarlett O'Hara's little sister) who comes to wartime London from America. Grizel is an ambulance driver who moves in with her great uncle Rollo. Grizel begins a romance with a wounded Canadian officer named Pax (Farley Granger), who turns out to be Lark's nephew. Now this may not sound very promising, but "Enchantment" transcends ordinary romantic melodrama by the way in which it tells its tale (and I'm not talking about the talking house). The story is told by cutting back and forth between two parallel romantic story lines taking place in the same house; Rollo and Lark during WWI and Grizel and Pax during WWII. This device works quite well and is worth watching just to see the match cut transitions that move the film back and forth between the two romances. There are ten of these transitions. The camera holds on the door inside Selina's bedroom as the story flashbacks to the same spot 25+ years earlier. Then a place-setting at the dinner table takes the story forward. The transitions continue; using a chandelier, a mantle clock, the fireplace, the sidewalk, and the staircase. But this is more than just a slick editing trick. Each match cut is designed to draw attention to parallels between Grizel and her predecessors in the house. Which is why she is given Selina's old room. The climatic transition does not use the match cut technique, presumably to indicate that the later romance will have a more upbeat outcome than the earlier one. The final match cut involves a set of house "keys"; probably not a deliberate play on a certain actresses' surname but a symbolic reference (i.e. the key to happiness). The sidewalk transition is the best one as Niven actually morphs into Granger at the same exact point on the sidewalk. This was a dolly tracking shot and the row houses in the background had to line up perfectly (remember this was before digital effects). For pretty much everyone who has seen"Enchantment", the most memorable images involve eight-year old Lark and ten-year old Rollo; played by real life brother and sister Peter Miles and Gigi Perreau. Gigi totally hijacks the film at this point leaving viewers wishing she had more scenes. Peter (in appearance and style) may remind you of Freddie Highmore ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Finding Neverland"). In fairness to Selina (nicely played by Jayne Meadows), her resentment of the cute little waif is somewhat understandable. Lark immediately brings out the protective instincts of Selina's father and two brothers. Basically supplanting Selina and stealing her destiny. Niven, Wright, and Keyes are quite good although Keyes never quite sells her shrewish side nor her attraction to Pax. I felt this was mostly due to Granger who was one creepy guy. Hitchcock cast him for his lead in "Rope" for this very quality and while it was an asset in that role it works to everyone's detriment here. Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

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• "Chick Flick" - But I LOVED it!!

  juikfred2007-10-27

  A melancholy love story that is a work of art. Flashbacks are often misused in movies but they are subtle and flow easily in "Enchantment", intertwining two stories. This tear-jerker flows from beginning to end - a masterpiece in every way. David Niven shows his acting skills both as a dashing young officer and as the retired general (makeup is FANTASTIC!!) still carrying a torch. His facial expressions tell his portion of the story even better than the well-written lines given to his character. Jayne Meadows is the older sister you'll love to hate. Teresa Wright is a sweet unintentional heart-breaker with a voice to match. As wonderful as the acting is, the photography and lighting make this movie as magical as it is "Enchanting".

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