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During WWII, the United States set up army bases in Great Britain as part of the war effort. Against their proper sensibilities, many of the Brits don't much like the brash Yanks, especially when it comes to the G.I.s making advances on the lonely British girls. One relationship that develops is between married John, an Army Captain, and the aristocratic Helen, whose naval husband is away at war. Helen loves her husband, but Helen and John are looking for some comfort during the difficult times.
Matt Dyson
Jean Moreton
Helen
John
Danny Ruffelo
Mollie
Mrs. Clarrie Moreton
Mr. Jim Moreton
Ken
Henry
Mrs. Moody
Red Cross lady
Tom
Cpl Cook
GI at Cinema
This has something of the mini-series to it, and try as I did - I just couldn’t get the “over paid, over sexed and over here” mantra from my mind as it rather predictably plodded along some melodramatic lines for a rather lengthy 2½ hours. There are two prongs to the story with the dashing “Matt” (Richard Gere) probably having the more prominent as he rather respectfully courts grocer’s daughter “Jean” (Lisa Eichhorn) - who is supposedly engaged to “Ken” (Derek Thompson) who is away fighting. Meantime the married lady “Helen” (Vanessa Redgrave) is drawn to captain “John” (William Devane) but let’s say their requirements from any relationship are maybe a little more cerebral. Back to “Jean” though and she has to convince her suspicious mother (Rachel Roberts) and father (Tony Melody) that he isn’t just after one thing. Can he mount an effective charm offensive and win the heart of his lady before the rumoured mobilisation makes their decisions for them. To be fair, it looks good with plenty of attention to the detail of the production and that helps it on the authenticity front, but that’s about the only front that delivers here as the plot meanders rather aimlessly without really bringing home just how perilous wartime living in southern England was and at how just how the local population dealt with the privations of wartime rationing whilst their visitors did their trading in stockings and chocolate. Gere is undoubtedly easy on the eye and his character has a general decency to him, but maybe that’s the problem - he, like the thing is general, is just too nice. Indeed, with exception of Roberts none of the characters here really resonate. It’s ok, but that’s about all that can be said for it.
September 1, 1979
Matt Dyson
Jean Moreton
Helen
John
Danny Ruffelo
Mollie
Mrs. Clarrie Moreton
Mr. Jim Moreton
Ken
Henry
Mrs. Moody
Red Cross lady
Tom
Cpl Cook
GI at Cinema
This has something of the mini-series to it, and try as I did - I just couldn’t get the “over paid, over sexed and over here” mantra from my mind as it rather predictably plodded along some melodramatic lines for a rather lengthy 2½ hours. There are two prongs to the story with the dashing “Matt” (Richard Gere) probably having the more prominent as he rather respectfully courts grocer’s daughter “Jean” (Lisa Eichhorn) - who is supposedly engaged to “Ken” (Derek Thompson) who is away fighting. Meantime the married lady “Helen” (Vanessa Redgrave) is drawn to captain “John” (William Devane) but let’s say their requirements from any relationship are maybe a little more cerebral. Back to “Jean” though and she has to convince her suspicious mother (Rachel Roberts) and father (Tony Melody) that he isn’t just after one thing. Can he mount an effective charm offensive and win the heart of his lady before the rumoured mobilisation makes their decisions for them. To be fair, it looks good with plenty of attention to the detail of the production and that helps it on the authenticity front, but that’s about the only front that delivers here as the plot meanders rather aimlessly without really bringing home just how perilous wartime living in southern England was and at how just how the local population dealt with the privations of wartime rationing whilst their visitors did their trading in stockings and chocolate. Gere is undoubtedly easy on the eye and his character has a general decency to him, but maybe that’s the problem - he, like the thing is general, is just too nice. Indeed, with exception of Roberts none of the characters here really resonate. It’s ok, but that’s about all that can be said for it.
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