The White Cliffs of Dover (1944)

★ 6.5 2h 6m IMDb

American Susan travels with her father to England for a vacation. Invited to a society ball, Susan meets Sir John Ashwood and marries him after a whirlwind romance. However, she never quite adjusts to life as a new member of the British gentry. At the outbreak of World War I, John is sent to the trenches and never returns. When her son goes off to fight in World War II, Susan fears the same tragic fate may befall him too.

The White Cliffs of Dover

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Cast

Irene Dunne
Irene Dunne as Susan Dunn Died 1990 · Louisville, Kentucky, USA Irene Marie Dunne (December 20, 1898 – September 4, 1990) was an American film actress and singer of the 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s. She was nominated five times for the Academy Award for Best Actre...
Alan Marshal
Alan Marshal as John Ashwood Died 1961 · Woollahra, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Alan Marshal (born Alan Marshal Willey; 29 January 1909 – 9 July 1961) was an actor who performed on stage in the United States and in Hollywood films..
Roddy McDowall
Roddy McDowall as John Ashwood II as a Boy Died 1998 · London, England, UK Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall (17 September 1928 – 3 October 1998) was an English-American actor, director, and photographer. He is best known for portraying Cornelius and Caesar in the origin...
Frank Morgan
Frank Morgan as Hiram Porter Dunn Died 1949 · New York City, New York, USA Frank Morgan (June 1, 1890 – September 18, 1949) was an American actor. He was best known for his portrayal of the title character in the film The Wizard of Oz. His older brother Ralph Morgan was also...
Van Johnson
Van Johnson as Sam Bennett Died 2008 · Newport, Rhode Island, USA Van Johnson (1916–2008) was an American film, television theatre and radio actor, singer, and dancer. He was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during and after World War II..
C. Aubrey Smith
C. Aubrey Smith as Walter Forsythe Died 1948 · London, England, UK C. Aubrey Smith (Sir Charles Aubrey Smith, CBE) was an English born stage and screen actor, prominent in Hollywood films starting from the beginning of the sound era..

Audience Reviews

CinemaSerf 7/10 Jun 30, 2022
Irene Dunne is superb here as a young American woman “Susan”, who travels to the UK with her grumpy, well meaning - indeed every inch his "Wizard of Oz" - father Frank Morgan (“Hiram") Once she arrives, she goes to a fancy ball where she meets and falls for the dashing "Sir John Ashwood" (Alan Marshal) and a whirlwind of a romance ensues. The rest of the story depicts her trials and tribulations as she tries to settle down with her new beau - and his rather cold, distant family whose views on Americans as loud, brash and all but uncivilised she finds alienating and difficult to adapt to. WWI intervenes, as does tragedy and the emphasis shifts to her bringing up their young son (briefly, an instantly recognisable 16 year-old Roddy McDowell) before he, too, has to go into service (by this time an equally dashing Peter Lawford) in WWII. There are far too many strong, decent supporting efforts to mention, but principally Dame May Whiity as the forceful, but ever so slightly slushy nanny; Sir C. Aubrey Smith as the hard as nails Colonel who melts like butter in the presence of Dunne and her child; Gladys Cooper as her mother-in-law and there is the tiniest of appearances from Elizabeth Taylor too. This is a story somewhat steeped in sentiment, but it isn't cloying - it depicts a changing world; not just wars and killing, but of fairly profound social change in Britain as the traditionally landed gentry see the gradual erosion of their wealth, rank and privilege. Tinged with frequent sorrow, this is an original, and poignant - occasionally humorous - coming of ages drama that has stood the test of time well.

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