"This Above All" is a war-time Homefront drama set in the summer and fall of 1940 England. It's a story of an unlikely romance that that develops into real love. And, of the redemption of a soldier who had a breakdown that let to bitterness toward his country, while England fought to survive and prevent Nazi Germany from overrunning it. Tyrone Power plays Clive Briggs, a soldier who has been AWOL for two months, after a month on sick leave for recovery. He is up for a major medal for his bravery and sacrifice, including saving others ahead of himself in the evacuation of Dunkirk that ended on June 4.
Joan Fontaine plays Prudence Cathaway who comes from English gentry, but who has enlisted as a private in the WAAF's (Women's Auxiliary Air Force of Britain's RAF). It's a chance meeting when she and Clive had reluctantly been squeezed into a double date for service friends. Joan's brother, Wilbur and his wife, Iris, are snooty snobs of the upper class. But the rest of her family are not. Her father is a medical doctor, Roger Cathaway, played by Philip Merivale. Henry Stephenson plays her uncle Cathaway who's a general in the army.
The film has a fine supporting cast, including Thomas Mitchell as Monty; Alexander Knox as the Rector, Jill Esmond as Nurse Emily Harvey, and Nigel Bruce as Ramsbottom. Monty has come to meet Clive on the coast where he and Prue had gone for a week's stay. Monty urges Clive to return to his unit before his captain has to report him as a deserter. Joan learns all about this and his heroism from Monty. But now, Clive is bitter toward his own country and doesn't want to fight for an aristocracy that bathes in luxury compared to the common folk.
The story has some nice turns in which Clive slowly regains his senses. Joan appeals to common sense to stop an enemy from overrunning their country. A nurse bandages a severe wound on his hand and is kind toward him. A clergyman invites him in for tea and helps him see the light. And, finally, going to meet Joan in London before he turns himself in, he is stopped by a man pleading for help after his house had just been bombed and his small child and wife were still inside as it burned. Clive again risks his life to save others.
The story opens with the Cathaway's at home listening to a BBC news report. It was June 22, and the French had just signed the Armistice with Germany. The news announcer says, "In Berlin tonight, a government spokesman declared that the conquest of Britain by the end of September is now definitely assured. He pointed out that the Channel between Dover and Calais is a mere seven minutes flying distance." Joan and Clive meet after she completes her WAAF training. And, the ending is a nice love story closing with a chin-up message about fighting for England, "this, above all."
This is a very good patriotic and flag waiver film with a love and sacrifice story. It probably resonated as well in the U. S. as on the English Homefront . At the time of the film's May 1942 release, the U. S. had been in the war barely five months.
Here are some favorite lines.
Wilbur, "There's one good thing about the wireless. You can always turn it off.
Dr. Roger Cathaway, "When men haven't slept for days on end, you have to teach them how to close their eyes."
Dr. Roger, "Do you know what our enemies say every night in their prayers? They say, 'Please God, keep the English from getting excited for one more years and we shall never need your help again.'"
Dr. Roger, "I remember taking out Lord Evesham's appendix a year ago. Do you know, it was exactly like Bert's (their gardener's)."
Iris Cathaway, "I'm not against equality. I'm perfectly prepared to be equal with anybody, providing they don't start being equal with me."
Prudence Cathaway, "But I don't want to be an officer until I've learned to be a private."
Monty, "When you work with a bloke, eat, sleep, and drink with him for month on end, you either want to shoot him or die for him."
Clive Briggs, "Well, this has been a great day. Crowded out of a tea shop; shut out of a cinema; thrown out of a hotel; and turned out of a bus. One feels the warm heart of England."
Policeman on bike, "Well, maybe they haven't uniforms, but they have got the spirit." Rector, "Look - there's Harry Gates, the poacher, marching with Sir George." Policeman, "Ah, poachers is the men for the home guard, sir. They know this country - every inch."
Clive Briggs, "They must have believed in those days - really and truly believed. No one has that kind of faith today." Rector, "Are you sure? Perhaps you're only speaking for yourself."
Rector, "We've no physical sanctuary any longer but we do help some people find a greater one - a spiritual sanctuary. Peace of mind, you called it just now."
Rector, "I see you as a symbol of our age. An age of reason that's driving out the age of faith."
Clive Briggs, "How can you have faith in a thing when your reason tells you that you can't believe it?"
Rector, "Reason deals with the things we know. There are a lot of things we don't know. Faith is useful when reason can't go any further. Faith is simply the quality of believing beyond reason. Isn't that perhaps what troubles you?"
Rector, "Your mind and your soul deadlocked in a struggle Your body the battleground."
Rector, "Whatever you do, don't think anymore. Trust your feelings, not your reason. If you do that I believe your problem may soon be over."
Joan Fontaine plays Prudence Cathaway who comes from English gentry, but who has enlisted as a private in the WAAF's (Women's Auxiliary Air Force of Britain's RAF). It's a chance meeting when she and Clive had reluctantly been squeezed into a double date for service friends. Joan's brother, Wilbur and his wife, Iris, are snooty snobs of the upper class. But the rest of her family are not. Her father is a medical doctor, Roger Cathaway, played by Philip Merivale. Henry Stephenson plays her uncle Cathaway who's a general in the army.
The film has a fine supporting cast, including Thomas Mitchell as Monty; Alexander Knox as the Rector, Jill Esmond as Nurse Emily Harvey, and Nigel Bruce as Ramsbottom. Monty has come to meet Clive on the coast where he and Prue had gone for a week's stay. Monty urges Clive to return to his unit before his captain has to report him as a deserter. Joan learns all about this and his heroism from Monty. But now, Clive is bitter toward his own country and doesn't want to fight for an aristocracy that bathes in luxury compared to the common folk.
The story has some nice turns in which Clive slowly regains his senses. Joan appeals to common sense to stop an enemy from overrunning their country. A nurse bandages a severe wound on his hand and is kind toward him. A clergyman invites him in for tea and helps him see the light. And, finally, going to meet Joan in London before he turns himself in, he is stopped by a man pleading for help after his house had just been bombed and his small child and wife were still inside as it burned. Clive again risks his life to save others.
The story opens with the Cathaway's at home listening to a BBC news report. It was June 22, and the French had just signed the Armistice with Germany. The news announcer says, "In Berlin tonight, a government spokesman declared that the conquest of Britain by the end of September is now definitely assured. He pointed out that the Channel between Dover and Calais is a mere seven minutes flying distance." Joan and Clive meet after she completes her WAAF training. And, the ending is a nice love story closing with a chin-up message about fighting for England, "this, above all."
This is a very good patriotic and flag waiver film with a love and sacrifice story. It probably resonated as well in the U. S. as on the English Homefront . At the time of the film's May 1942 release, the U. S. had been in the war barely five months.
Here are some favorite lines.
Wilbur, "There's one good thing about the wireless. You can always turn it off.
Dr. Roger Cathaway, "When men haven't slept for days on end, you have to teach them how to close their eyes."
Dr. Roger, "Do you know what our enemies say every night in their prayers? They say, 'Please God, keep the English from getting excited for one more years and we shall never need your help again.'"
Dr. Roger, "I remember taking out Lord Evesham's appendix a year ago. Do you know, it was exactly like Bert's (their gardener's)."
Iris Cathaway, "I'm not against equality. I'm perfectly prepared to be equal with anybody, providing they don't start being equal with me."
Prudence Cathaway, "But I don't want to be an officer until I've learned to be a private."
Monty, "When you work with a bloke, eat, sleep, and drink with him for month on end, you either want to shoot him or die for him."
Clive Briggs, "Well, this has been a great day. Crowded out of a tea shop; shut out of a cinema; thrown out of a hotel; and turned out of a bus. One feels the warm heart of England."
Policeman on bike, "Well, maybe they haven't uniforms, but they have got the spirit." Rector, "Look - there's Harry Gates, the poacher, marching with Sir George." Policeman, "Ah, poachers is the men for the home guard, sir. They know this country - every inch."
Clive Briggs, "They must have believed in those days - really and truly believed. No one has that kind of faith today." Rector, "Are you sure? Perhaps you're only speaking for yourself."
Rector, "We've no physical sanctuary any longer but we do help some people find a greater one - a spiritual sanctuary. Peace of mind, you called it just now."
Rector, "I see you as a symbol of our age. An age of reason that's driving out the age of faith."
Clive Briggs, "How can you have faith in a thing when your reason tells you that you can't believe it?"
Rector, "Reason deals with the things we know. There are a lot of things we don't know. Faith is useful when reason can't go any further. Faith is simply the quality of believing beyond reason. Isn't that perhaps what troubles you?"
Rector, "Your mind and your soul deadlocked in a struggle Your body the battleground."
Rector, "Whatever you do, don't think anymore. Trust your feelings, not your reason. If you do that I believe your problem may soon be over."