"Till We Meet Again" is a wartime drama set in France during WW II. The film had one of the timeliest releases of any Hollywood project during the war. It premiered in the U.S. on 29 August 1944 - less than three months after the Allied landings in Normandy on D-Day, the 5th of June 1944.
This is one of those rare wartime films, made and released during the war, that focuses more on the drama of personal lives than on combat and military action. In the order of appearance, the film closely explores four people. The first is Lucile Watson as the Mother Superior of a convent orphanage in France. The second is Barbara Britton as Sister Clothilde who had come to the orphanage as a child years before. Next is Walter Slezak as Mayor Vitrey, the local ordinary who is under the thumb of the Germans. Lastly is Ray Milland, an American airman, John, whose plane was shot down. Two other characters of significance are Vladimir Sokoloff as Cabeau and Konstantin Shayne as German Major Krupp.
At the time of this film - in it and in real life, German forces had moved into Southern France as well to defend against an invasion from the Mediterranean. But, Mayor Vitrey and the Vichy government were still the token government administrators of the region.
The film is a good wartime look at the French Underground and its operations in Southern France under the Vichy government. The main story is about a network that helps downed Allied airmen and others being hunted by the Nazis, to escape. Plots within that story include a Catholic convent with nuns running an orphanage for homeless children and those whose parents have died. Another is the underground dislike and distrust by the people for the French Vichy government.
Sister Clothilde has never left the convent since her childhood. But she is forced to help John escape when the woman who had been arranged to pose as his wife was arrested by the Gestapo. In their journey to escape, the John talks about his wife and baby boy back home. The nun learns something about the love between husband and wife, and sharing that with children.
This is a very good film about wartime oppression and suffering, resistance to an enemy, and with strong overtones of freedom, faith and family.
The only drawback to the film is the stage setting feel for some scenes. Of course, that was a time when most movies were shot on sound stages and very little acting was done and filmed in realistic outdoor settings. But otherwise, this film scores high in all aspects. The acting is very good all around. The plot and screenplay are first-rate and the direction, camera work and other technical aspects are superb.
The film has a sort of surprise ending, but a very appropriate and moving one. And one special scene in the screenplay is worth noting. Milland's John gives one of best, moving and heartfelt descriptions of marriage ever put on film.
Here are some memorable lines from this film.
Mother superior, "After the last war, I thought I was through with the Germans." Major Krupp, "One is never through with the Germans." Mother superior, "That is what our gardener says about the blight that attacks our roses, but we must struggle against it just the same."
Mother superior, "The size of the flea has no relation to its bite."
Mayor Vitrey, "As mayor of the village, it is also very distressing for me." Major Krupp, "No, Vitrey, for you as mayor, it is unhealthy."
Vitrey, "Th... they talk about me in the village? What do they say?" Mother superior, "I never listen to slander." Major Krupp, "Ha, ha, ha! You are a fool, Vitrey, to try and match wits with reverend mother."
Mother superior, "This is my third war. Everything changes but the Germans."
Gaston, the waiter, "They're all the same, those Nazis. They try to act like conquerors. They know they have conquered nothing. They are lonely, homesick and hated."
Sister Clothilde, "I feel lost." John, "You shouldn't. God is everywhere. And everything outside the convent isn't ugly and frightening and sinful. And marriage must be right or it wouldn't be a sacrament of the Church. I took vows too, you know, and kept them. Marriage can be the most, well the most beautiful thing in the world. It's like finding your other self, and once you've found her you're only half a person without her.
