While I Live (1947)

For while I live, you shall not die!

While I Live is directed by John Harlow and written by Robert Bell, John Harlow and Doreen Montgomery. It stars Tom Walls, Clifford Evans, Sonia Dresdel, Patricia Burke, John Warwick, Edward Lexy and Audrey Fildes. Music is by Charles Williams and cinematography by Freddie Young.

It has been 25 years since her composer sister died in tragic circumstance, but Julia Trevelyan (Dresdel) still obsesses over her. Then one day an amnesiac woman arrives at the family home looking for help, and now Julia is certain that she is the reincarnation of her beloved sister.

It has become one of those films more known for its theme music than for the film itself. For here we have Charles Williams’ quite beautiful “The Dream of Olwen” featuring as a key part of the narrative. It’s the piece of work that Olwen Trevelyan (Fildes) was struggling to finish before her untimely death. While it’s undeniably the beating heart of the pic, it’s a disservice to ignore what characteristic and narrative smarts are on show.

This is a fascinating delve into not only the world of amnesia, but also to that of grief as a sometimes unstoppable force. Thus with the setting to the tale being a cliff top dwelling in Cornwall, pic is ripe for ethereal tones and shadowy visuals, with the mystery of the amnesiac lady a constant intrigue. It’s all very improbable of course, and much of the acting is of its time and very “correct” as it were, but this is a lovely film with sharp themes at the core, some nifty tech aspects on show and a bona fide classic piece of music driving it forward. 7.5/10

A little like the Nino Rota theme from the "Glass Mountain", this film is much more memorable for the beautiful, haunting melody "The Dream of Olwen" from Charles Williams than for it's acting. The story revolves around a spinster "Julia (Sonia Dresdel) who has been mourning the death of her musically gifted sister for a quarter of a century. Out of the blue, an amnesiac lady (Audrey Flides) arrives at their home and "Julia" soon becomes convinced that she is the reincarnation of her dead sibling. Not a view shared by everyone in the family - but, eerily, she has knowledge and habits common to the deceased. It's a gently presented melodrama - a good cast telling a charming tale that hasn't really much depth either in the plot or characterisation departments but tugs at the heart strings nonetheless...