There’s a wonderful scene that takes place in a church. Colman plays them almost as two totally different men yet once in while we see a flicker of little Smithy, and we see, if only for a moment, a man who is lost in a place which he’s supposed to call home. In his place stands Charles Rainier, the so-called “Industrial Prince of England”, the embodiment of effortless charm and calm assurance. Once he regains his memory, the character of Smithy seems to disappear entirely. We cut to Colman: his brave smile begins to fade away, his hand quivers at his side, and finally he too realises that these people are not his family. The doctor opens the door, and immediately we can see the terrible disappointment in their faces. This can be seen in the early scene in the asylum, with John Smith preparing to meet a couple who are hoping that he is their missing son. As a result, we the audience, despite ourselves, begin to believe that such a lovely lady could indeed be real.Īs for Colman’s Smithy, he is sincere and good-natured, but is haunted also by an intense vulnerability. Never does her performance seem sentimental, for always she carries herself with a delicate humanity. The character of Paula is so beautifully and lovingly rendered by Garson. And if they were good in their previous respective Hilton outings, the pair are arguably even better together in Random Harvest. Of course, it has also at its helm Greer Garson and Ronald Colman, perhaps the two most Hiltonesque actors to have ever graced the silver screen. Like many other stories of Hilton’s, Random Harvest has a uniquely transcendent quality: it features the mysterious lyricism of Lost Horizon, but possesses also the innocent endearment of Goodbye Mr Chips. From the immensely successful James Hilton novel did this world first emerge. Instead, like any great film, Random Harvest draws us into a world, rather subtly unlike our own. Yet one never really questions the supposed implausibility of the unfolding tale. This is, needless to say, textbook soap opera. One day however, he suddenly remembers his true identity, and loses concurrently all the memories of his three years with Paula. He falls for and eventually marries a wonderful girl, Paula Ridgeway, and for a while the two seem to lead a thoroughly idyllic life in the English countryside. The start of the film sees Colman as a WWI veteran suffering from amnesia and apparently utterly alone in the world. I suppose if we look merely at the plot of Random Harvest, it surely ticks every box. Upon viewing Random Harvest in 1942, he said that he would “like to recommend this film to those who can with pleasure eat a bowl of Yardley’s shaving soap for breakfast.” Before I tell you of my own thoughts, I thought I’d first share a quote with you from the late great James Agee.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |