This Above All
This Above All

This Above All

1942Movie110 minEnglish

In 1940 England, aristocratic Prudence Cathaway alarms her snobbish parents by joining the WAF service branch. She soon meets and falls in love with the brooding Clive Briggs, despite his prejudice against the upper classes, and agrees to spend a week with him at a Dover hotel. When Clive's soldier friend, Monty, arrives to retrieve him, Prudence learns that Clive went AWOL after Dunkirk, and urges him to recall why England must fight the war.

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Insights

IMDb7.2/10
Director: Anatole LitvakGenres: Drama, Romance, War

Plot Summary

During World War II, an Englishwoman falls in love with an American pilot. Their budding romance faces immense challenges due to his impending return to America and her family's expectations. The film explores themes of love, duty, and sacrifice against the backdrop of wartime uncertainty.

Critical Reception

This Above All was generally well-received by critics for its strong performances, particularly from Joan Fontaine, and its poignant portrayal of wartime romance. While some found the plot to be a bit melodramatic, its emotional core and historical context resonated with audiences and reviewers alike.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its touching wartime romance and emotional depth.
  • Joan Fontaine's performance was singled out for critical acclaim.
  • Some critics noted a melodramatic tendency in the narrative.

Google audience: Audience reception details are not readily available for this film.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for 4 Academy Awards: Best Actress (Joan Fontaine), Best Supporting Actor (Henry Stephenson), Best Cinematography, and Best Art Direction.

Fun Fact

The film was adapted from Eric Knight's 1940 novel of the same name, which was a bestseller and a Book-of-the-Month Club selection.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

A really strong ensemble cast get together for this wartime drama that sees the posh "Prudence" (Joan Fontaine) sign up to join the Women's Auxiliary Army Force - much to the chagrin of her old-soldier father Henry Stephenson. Not long into...