Film Snail

4.8

Young Widow

NR·1946·100m

Drama

Summary

A young bride tries to rebuild her life after she learns her husband has been killed in the war.

Cast

Jane Russell

Joan Kenwood

Louis Hayward

Jim Cameron

Faith Domergue

Gerry Taylor

Marie Wilson

"Mac" McCallister

Kent Taylor

Peter Waring

Penny Singleton

Peg Martin

Louise Beavers

Rosie

Connie Gilchrist

Aunt Cissie

Cora Witherspoon

Aunt Emeline

Norman Lloyd

Sammy Jackson

Steve Brodie

Willie Murphy

Richard Bailey

Bill Martin

Robert Holton

Bob Johnson

Peter Garey

Navy Lieutenant Smith

William Moss

Marine Lieutenant Pearson

William Murphy

Army Lieutenant Hope

Leigh Whipper

Nate (Uncredited)

Walter Baldwin

Miller (Uncredited)

Harry Barris

Officer's Club Pianist (Uncredited)

James Burke

Motorcycle Cop (Uncredited)

Jimmie Dodd

Soldier in Officer's Club (Uncredited)

Ben Hall

Sailor in Hospital Waiting Room (Uncredited)

Cordell Hickman

Black Boy (Uncredited)

George Meader

Photographer (Uncredited)

Gerald Mohr

Walter (Uncredited)

William Newell

Charlie (Uncredited)

Harry Strang

Skycap (Uncredited)

James Flavin

Subway Conductor (Uncredited)

Charles Ferguson

Subway Onlooker (Uncredited)

Jessie Arnold

Woman Who Falls Under Train (Uncredited)

Margaret Bert

Woman on Subway Platform (Uncredited)

George Lloyd

Man on Subway Platform (Uncredited)

Thomas Martin

Nightclub Bartender (Uncredited)

Chet Brandenburg

Nightclub Waiter (Uncredited)

Larry Steers

Nightclub Waiter (Uncredited)

James Conaty

Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)

Edward Biby

Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)

Charles Sullivan

Nightclub Patron (Uncredited)

John Kelly

Cab Driver (Uncredited)

Dick Wessel

Cab Driver (Uncredited)

Crew

Director

Edwin L. Marin

Novel

Clarissa Fairchild Cushman

Writer

Richard Macaulay

Writer

Margaret Buell Wilder

Reviews

Geronimo1967

July 7, 2022

This film boasts two strong performances from Jane Russell and Louis Hayward. The former, a young widow still coming to terms with the death of her husband; the latter, a man she encounters on a train - and one who falls for her immediately. She is less than impressed! What ensues is a characterful romantic cat and mouse, but with a bit more depth. There is a poignancy to the grief of "Joan". It isn't a "woe is me" style grief, but Russell's portrayal delivers a glimpse of the sincerity of a character torn between her past and her future. Hayward foils this light melancholia perfectly. His cock-sure persona makes us grimace at times, but it's clear from fairly early on that he is the ying to her yang, she just has to believe it. There are a couple of decent supporting efforts that allow us to come up fo air - Marie Wilson as the femme fatale "Mac"; Cora Witherspoon as well meaning ("Aunt Emeline") and Louise Beavers as the cook who manages to inject some common sense and humour into it all. There's no denying it can be slow, and quite sluggish in parts. Russell is still finding her feet in front of the camera, and it proves too difficult for Edward Marin to sustain the intensity at times, but it's an enjoyable watch that gives us fair warning of what to expect from Jane Russell...