{"id":24549,"date":"2012-03-02T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2012-03-02T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=24549"},"modified":"2021-01-10T10:58:00","modified_gmt":"2021-01-10T17:58:00","slug":"enchanted-cottage-the-1945","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=24549","title":{"rendered":"Enchanted Cottage, The (1945)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Oh no, it&#8217;s not haunted &#8212; just enchanted.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Poster-193x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-24552\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Poster-193x300.jpg 193w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Poster-82x128.jpg 82w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Poster.jpg 488w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 193px) 100vw, 193px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA fighter pilot (Robert Young) disfigured in the war goes to live in a cottage managed by a widow (Mildred Natwick) and a homely young girl (Dorothy McGuire). He eventually marries McGuire simply to prevent his concerned mother (Spring Byington) from meddling in his life &#8212; but as the two begin to fall in love, they mysteriously find themselves looking more and more attractive to each other.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Disfigured Faces<\/li>\n<li>Dorothy McGuire Films<\/li>\n<li>Fantasy<\/li>\n<li>Herbert Marshall Films<\/li>\n<li>John Cromwell Films<\/li>\n<li>Play Adaptation<\/li>\n<li>Robert Young Films<\/li>\n<li>Romance<\/li>\n<li>Veterans<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary begins his review of John Cromwell&#8217;s <em>The Enchanted Cottage<\/em> by noting that &#8220;one of Hollywood&#8217;s schmaltziest films has found the soft spot in enough moviegoers&#8217; hearts to make it a cult film of sorts&#8221; &#8212; thus presumably justifying its inclusion in his book, given that he spends the rest of his short review roundly criticizing it. Despite acknowledging that &#8220;Young and McGuire give sensitive performances&#8221;, he insists that they&#8217;re &#8220;done in by [an] embarrassing script by Herman Mankiewicz and De Witt Bodeen, and overwhelmed by lush music&#8221;; in sum, he states, &#8220;The syrup is laid on thick and it&#8217;s a bad brand&#8221;. And he&#8217;s not alone in his negative assessment: Time Out refers to it as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/the-enchanted-cottage\">&#8220;icky romantic whimsy&#8221;<\/a>, while TCM&#8217;s staff writer simply concedes it&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/2109\/the-enchanted-cottage#articles-reviews?articleId=62531\">&#8220;a movie with its heart in the right place&#8221;<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>I actually don&#8217;t find the script to be &#8220;embarrassing&#8221;, given that it unabashedly sets out to tell a particular tale of romance between two deeply troubled individuals. The &#8220;fantasy&#8221; element (i.e., the fact that Young and McGuire genuinely believe they&#8217;re seeing physical changes in each other) mostly worked for me, on a metaphorical level; let&#8217;s just say I was willing to go along for the ride. What&#8217;s less convincing is McGuire&#8217;s physical appearance as a dowdy lass: it&#8217;s perfectly true, as many have pointed out, that her &#8220;defects&#8221; could be (and are) easily fixed by a new haircut, a bit of make-up, and a renewed sense of self-confidence. One scene &#8212; in which multiple GIs at a dance glance at her from afar, then turn away once they get a closer look &#8212; edges close to campy melodrama, but is believable if you&#8217;re willing to acknowledge that McGuire (prior to falling in love with Young) simply projects, without meaning to, some kind of &#8220;stay away from me&#8221; vibe of &#8220;ugliness&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Dance.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Dance.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1361\" height=\"1021\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-62728\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Dance.png 1361w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Dance-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Dance-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Dance-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Dance-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Dance-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1361px) 100vw, 1361px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Young, meanwhile, does a fine job shifting from self-assured pilot to embittered veteran to a man renewed by love; and Natwick projects an appropriate aura of mystery as a landlady who&#8217;s lived with her house&#8217;s secrets for many decades. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Natwick.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Natwick.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1363\" height=\"1045\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-62727\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Natwick.png 1363w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Natwick-300x230.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Natwick-1024x785.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Natwick-128x98.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Natwick-768x589.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Natwick-352x270.png 352w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1363px) 100vw, 1363px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Robert Young as Oliver<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Young-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Young-1-1024x770.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"481\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62732\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Young-1-1024x770.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Young-1-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Young-1-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Young-1-768x578.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Young-1-359x270.png 359w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Young-1.png 1357w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A touching, unconventional romance<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Couple.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Couple.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1351\" height=\"1023\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-62730\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Couple.png 1351w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Couple-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Couple-1024x775.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Couple-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Couple-768x582.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Couple-357x270.png 357w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1351px) 100vw, 1351px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Ted Tetzlaff&#8217;s romantic cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Romance2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Romance2-1024x780.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"488\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Romance2-1024x780.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Romance2-300x228.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Romance2-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Romance2-768x585.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Romance2-355x270.png 355w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Enchanted-Cottage-Romance2.png 1341w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s recommended simply for its cult status &#8212; and you <em>may<\/em> actually enjoy it!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0037671\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1945\/04\/28\/archives\/the-screen-enchanted-cottage-remake-of-play-by-sir-arthur-pinero.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fantasticmoviemusings.com\/2018\/04\/22\/the-enchanted-cottage-1924\/\">SciFilm Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/moria.co.nz\/fantasy\/enchantedcottage1945.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/2109\/the-enchanted-cottage#articles-reviews?articleId=62531\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/the-enchanted-cottage\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Oh no, it&#8217;s not haunted &#8212; just enchanted.&#8221; Synopsis: A fighter pilot (Robert Young) disfigured in the war goes to live in a cottage managed by a widow (Mildred Natwick) and a homely young girl (Dorothy McGuire). He eventually marries McGuire simply to prevent his concerned mother (Spring Byington) from meddling in his life &#8212; but as the two begin to fall in love, they mysteriously find themselves looking more and more attractive to each other. Genres, Themes, Actors, and&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=24549\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24549"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24549\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62734,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24549\/revisions\/62734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}