Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Not part of a collection.
The White Cliffs of Dover
The greatest love story of our time!
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.
- Original title
- The White Cliffs of Dover
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- —
- Revenue
- —
CinemaSerf
Jun 30, 2022 · via TMDB
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.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
Irene Dunne
Susan Dunn
Alan Marshal
John Ashwood
Roddy McDowall
John Ashwood II as a Boy
Frank Morgan
Hiram Porter Dunn
Van Johnson
Sam Bennett
C. Aubrey Smith
Walter Forsythe
May Whitty
Nanny
Gladys Cooper
Jean Ashwood
Peter Lawford
John Ashwood II as a Young Man
John Warburton
Reggie Ashwood
Jill Esmond
Rosamund
Brenda Forbes
Gwennie
Norma Varden
Mrs. Bland
Harry Allen
English Cabbie (uncredited)
Matthew Boulton
Immigration Officer (uncredited)
Edmund Breon
Rupert Bancroft (uncredited)
Clifford Brooke
Indian Major in Boardinghouse (uncredited)
Charles Coleman
Captain Davis (uncredited)
Clyde Cook
Jennings (uncredited)
Alec Craig
Billings (uncredited)
Adrienne D'Ambricourt
Madam at Dieppe Hotel (uncredited)
Guy D'Ennery
Curate in Boardinghouse (uncredited)
George Davis
Boots (uncredited)
Kay Deslys
Blonde Woman (uncredited)
Vernon Downing
Lieutenant Davis Herrick (uncredited)
Tom Drake
Dying American Soldier (uncredited)
Isobel Elsom
Mrs. Bancroft (uncredited)
Herbert Evans
Footman (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum
Ball Guest (uncredited)
Emily Fitzroy
Spinster in Boardinghouse (uncredited)
Douglas Grant
Corporal (uncredited)
Gary Gray
Boy at Dinner Table (uncredited)
Arthur Gould-Porter
Captain Portage (uncredited)
Ethel Griffies
Woman on Train Opening Window (uncredited)
Gerald Hamer
Private (uncredited)
Lumsden Hare
The Vicar (uncredited)
Joy Harington
Nurse Margaret (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes
Ball Guest (uncredited)
Molly Lamont
Helen Hampton (uncredited)
Nelson Leigh
British Naval Officer (uncredited)
Adolf E. Licho
Frenchman at Dieppe Train Station (uncredited)
Doris Lloyd
Plump Lady at Boardinghouse (uncredited)
June Lockhart
Betsy Kenney at Age 18 (uncredited)
Miles Mander
Major Loring (uncredited)
Lal Chand Mehra
Indian Student in Boardinghouse (uncredited)
Gavin Muir
Captain Griffiths (uncredited)
Ottola Nesmith
Orderly in Hospital (uncredited)
J. Pat O'Malley
Martin (uncredited)
Anita Sharp-Bolster
Miller (uncredited)
Arthur Shields
Benson (uncredited)
Elizabeth Taylor
Betsy Kenney at Age 10 (uncredited)
Larry Wheat
Guest in Boardinghouse (uncredited)
Ian Wolfe
Skipper of Honeymoon Boat (uncredited)
Cedric Gibbons
Art Direction
Randall Duell
Art Direction
Edwin B. Willis
Set Decoration
George J. Folsey
Director of Photography
Irene
Costume Supervisor
A. Arnold Gillespie
Special Effects
Clarence Brown
Director
Clarence Brown
Producer
Sidney Franklin
Producer
Herbert Stothart
Original Music Composer
Douglas Shearer
Sound Director
Troll
Blue Moon
Acı Hayat
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Career Girls
Cry 'Havoc'
Unconquered
A Royal Night Out
Changing Hearts
So Evil My Love
Oliver Twist
Salome's Last Dance
Attenberg
Bokser
Henry VIII and His Six Wives
Caregiver
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Regeneration
Rag Doll
Do I Love You?
Gone with the Wind
Doctor Zhivago
The Guns of Navarone
The Secret: Dare to Dream
The Magic of Ordinary Days
Persuasion
A Time to Love and a Time to Die
Battle of the Bulge
Hope and Glory
Overlord
The Last Rifleman
Battleground
Lovely, Still
Kitty Foyle
To Hell and Back
Tobruk
Racing with the Moon
Waiting for Anya
Benediction
Salome
May 11, 1944
New York City, New York
Jun 19, 1944
Los Angeles, California
