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Enchantment

1948, Movie, NR, 102 mins

Enchantment: Review

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This slow-moving love story marks one of the rare Goldwyn pictures that lacked a central driving force. It was Gregg Toland's last photographic job before his death, and the look of the film far outweighs the content. Fifty years in the life of a London home is the theme. The address is 99 Wiltshire Place and the action, such as it is, occurs between 1894 and 1944. Teresa Wright is an orphan taken into the house to be a sister to Meadows, Niven, and Friend. When their father dies, Meadows' hatred for Wright emerges. Wright is in love with Niven, but he's not certain if he shares that love for her. Who is certain is brother Friend--as is wealthy Italian Strudwick. Meadows wishes Wright would run off with Strudwick and stay out of her hair, but Wright has her own ideas. Eventually, Niven and Wright decide to wed and tell Meadows. She is irate and convinces Niven's military boss, Stephenson, to send him off to India. According to the rules, officers may not take their wives to India, so now Wright must wait several years until Niven completes his service. Niven must make a decision and hesitates just a moment too long. Wright is furious and exits, to Meadows' delight. Niven says he'll never come into 99 Wiltshire Place as long as she lives and throws the latch key on the floor, then turns on his heel. Wright goes to Italy with Strudwick and no one, except Meadows, is happy. A half-century later, Niven returns to the old, dark house. He's served all those years and is a retired general. His one remaining friend and aide is his equally ancient butler, Leo G. Carroll. It's the middle of WW II and Niven's American granddaughter is Evelyn Keyes, an ambulance driver. The crusty Niven eventually accepts her after a disastrous first meeting. Wright's nephew is Farley Granger, a Canadian pilot in London for the duration. Keyes and Granger fall in love and he would like to marry, but she is more pragmatic and says they must wait until after the war is ended. Niven remembers the lost opportunity he had for happiness so many years ago and tells his niece that love is a rare and unique thing and must be grabbed, like the brass ring on a merry-go-round, whenever one can reach for it. It may never happen again. Keyes immediately rushes out into the street to find Granger. An air raid is taking place and a bomb hits the house and destroys it and Niven and Carroll. The picture ends. Phew! Not a lot of laughs. A lack of fulfillment hurts this movie more than anything else. The direction is excellent and John Patrick's dialog is eminently believable but, in the end, one wants to see lovers unite and happiness prevail. leave a comment
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