Ich werde dich wiedersehen (1944)
20KIch werde dich wiedersehen: Directed by William Dieterle, George Cukor. With Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotten, Shirley Temple, Spring Byington. A soldier suffering from combat fatigue meets a young woman on Christmas furlough from prison and their mutual loneliness blossoms into romance.
“This is a kind of forgotten Christmas or Christmas-themed movie. Iu0026#39;ve only seen this a few times on TV over the years but this is a good movie. Ginger Rogers doesnu0026#39;t sing or dance here but she puts in an excellent dramatic performance as a woman on furlough for the holidays from prison. Joseph Cotton is the soldier on leave from the front lines of World War II. Both have psychological problems and no significant other to help them through. David O. Selznick is executive producer here but this film doesnu0026#39;t have the look of an Selznick film with giant sets and big interior shots and sweeping landscapes. Selznick doesnu0026#39;t put his name on it and Dore Schary is Producer but Selznick had the final say in how this was done. William Dieterle directs. He had renowned success with such films as The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Devil u0026amp; Daniel Webster and would go on to direct Portrait of Hennie, Love Letters, Dark City and September Affair among others. Selznick is reported to have not liked this script and tried changes that Dieterle basically ignored but Selnick did call in director George Cukor to re shoot a scene critical to the plot that involved Shirley Temple. Joan Fontaine was originally offered the Rogers role and this may have been a very different picture with Fontaine starring opposite Cotton but I think Rogers was better for this role and brought more strength and hardness to the character that Fontaine would have been too delicate and vulnerable in. Shirley Temple in her transition from child star into adult roles delivers a fine performance from the supporting cast which also includes Chill Wills and a young John Derek. This film was adapted from the Charles Martin radio play Double Furlough by screenwriter Martin Parsonette. I would give this an 8.0 out of a possible 10 and recommend it.”
