Self-absorbed Dr. Lee Johnson enlists with the Army medical corps during World War II, more out of a feeling that it’s “the thing to do” rather than deep-seated patriotism. On his first day, he’s put into place by ‘Snapshot’, a sassy and attractive nurse. Their initial antagonism blossoms into romance. Lee then finds himself torn with guilt over being unfaithful to his wife, Penny, who’s waiting for him back home.
113 min | Drama, Mystery, Romance | 1948 | Color
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Excellent film of the medical corps and love in war
Few movies have shown the nitty-gritty of the field hospital and medical corps in war. "Homecoming" is one that does, with much realism and intensity. We are spared the gore of viewing the bloody and torn bodies ourselves. But the manners, expressions and actions of the cast convey the ugly effects of war. And the long days of 16-hour stretches of operating, the fatigue of the doctors and nurses, and the intense working conditions – often with bombs and shells exploding around them – show us another side of war. We see these dedicated noncombatants struggle and sacrifice to repair and save lives. For this alone, "Homecoming" is an outstanding movie.
But throw in a romance, and the film stands out as even more extraordinary. But, not just any, typical war-time romance of soldier meets girl. That would have cheapened this film. Rather, "Homecoming" has a complex and complicated romance. It's one that probably happened in real life many times during the war, but that few films have tried to tackle. It's a love that developed slowly between the chief surgeon and his nurse. Unlike the typical fare of today, two people don't jump into the sack together. This romance is a deeper, sincere and much more meaningful love. It's a love that emotes respect and caring. And it's a love of forbidden passion that can't go any further because the doctor already has a beautiful wife whom he loves back home.
Clark Gable and Lana Turner give their all to their roles in conveying the struggle they have in their growing love. They give tremendous performances in their roles as war-time surgeon and Army nurse. And, Anne Baxter, as the wife back home, also gives an exceptional performance.
This may be Gable's finest acting role. He moves adroitly through his changing character. He starts out as a highly confident, self-assured and mostly self-centered elitist physician. By film's end, he has become less self-assured – as he states himself, but more aware of his patients and the needs of people. He has become a caring, dedicated doctor. Turner's character is out of her usual glamor role. Instead, she's an Army nurse who has a six-year-old son by a husband who was killed in China as a pilot in the Flying Tigers. She is a serious, hard-working and dedicated professional who starts out disliking the rich-kid doctor. And Anne Baxter is the loving wife of the doctor who becomes jealous of the nurse, then understanding, then resolute and willing to fight to keep her man.
As I said, the film is about complex relationships. It's about learning to live (a reference in the film), and about growing and maturing and loving. All of this is set in the midst of World War II in Europe and on the home front. It's a truly exceptional movie and one that belongs in every film library. This movie came out just three years after the end of the war. While most veterans for years didn't like to talk about the war or their experiences, films such as this probably did a lot to help in post-war adjustments. They helped the people who were on the home front get a sense of what it was like for loved ones who went off to war. Indeed, this idea of understanding is a nice thought in the closing scene.
