As the most popular movie of all time, Gone With The Wind was seen as a benchmark of success that many would try to replicate but none would ever successfully do so to this very day. There was something about the combination of sweeping love story and grand spectacle that inspired audiences to flock to the theater for years. The search for similar such content came in many forms, but one of the most interesting ways was the case of Green Dolphin Street. After World War II, MGM hosted a novel-writing contest in which the author would win $100,000 and have their work adapted into a film. This atypical tactic paid off somewhat as the novel from Elizabeth Goudge ended up being a best-seller when it was released. The 1947 adaptation made quite a bit of money, as well, but an enormous budget kept it from having a substantial return on investment. Nevertheless, this epic tale stands on its own as an impactful and heartbreaking tale of love desired and lost.
It is the 1840s in the charming town of San Pierre on the English Channel Island of Guernsey when Dr. Edmond Ozanne (Frank Morgan, Broadway Melody of 1940) returns after many years away with his son, William (Richard Hart). Edmond was once in a relationship with Sophie Patourel (Gladys Cooper, My Fair Lady) in their youth, but the high society woman had to end it due to Edmond’s uncontrollable drinking and lower class status. In turn, Sophie was pressured to marry the more respectable Octavius Patourel (Edmund Gwenn, Miracle on 34th Street), whom she ended up falling in love with and having two daughters, Marguerite (Donna Reed, It’s A Wonderful Life) and Marianne Patourel (Lana Turner, The Bad and The Beautiful). This dalliance of the heart is kept a secret with this newest reconnection as families in the same town. This is a poor decision, as history sets about repeating itself as both sisters fall in love with the unrefined William, and the effects of such feelings will be felt far and wide through the many years that encompass this story.
To go into all of the intricacies of this nearly two-and-a-half-hour epic would do a disservice to the heaps of intrigue and heartache that the narrative has in store. The need for financial security and respectability is sensible, but such pursuits are the quickest way to wrecking lives in stories such as these. The path to nobility leads William, plagued by the vices of his father, around the world as a naval officer and eventually as a burgeoning businessman in the developing lands of New Zealand. His partner in crime in this venture is Timothy Haslam (Van Heflin), a man with his own connection to San Pierre and unrequited feelings to complement what everyone else is feeling. With a little communication, all parties involved would likely be able to live out the lives they want so desperately, but the pain of longing and missed opportunities makes for a much more bittersweet endeavor. If this movie teaches you anything, it is that the idea that “drunk texting” is a terrible idea has always been around in one form or another.
The film hinges on you caring for the fates of these characters, and the performers pull off the necessary character-building to achieve this goal. Both Lana Turner and Donna Reed provide equally stellar performances in different ways. Turner gives Marianne the gravitas and shrewdness that keeps her from being yet another completely helpless, single-minded female. Reed brings her typical sweetness to Marguerite, but she is mighty in her own way as she takes on the obstacles thrown her way with an unyielding determination. Her literal ascension to her ultimate fate is one of the standout sequences of the film. Although, it cannot quite match the sheer spectacle of a highly destructive earthquake in New Zealand that rivals the one we recently caught in San Francisco. The narrative can be frustrating in its bleak elements and constant sacrifice, but you would be hard-pressed to say it is not at least realistic in the way life does not always work out how you believe it will. Green Dolphin Street is a layered story with compelling characters and a visual aesthetic that delivers the goods. History has not treated it as the second coming of Gone With the Wind, but it is worth viewing as its own achievement.
Video Quality
Green Dolphin Street makes its Blu-Ray debut thanks to Warner Archive with a brand new 1080p master from a 4K scan of preservation film elements. The only word to describe this presentation is flawless. The gorgeous black-and-white photography shot by George Folsey sparkles in high definition with natural grain intact. There is a fantastic amount of detail present with nice textures on the clothing, both in the fancy dresses of the Patourel sisters and in the shabby clothing of the crew on the ship. The new transfer shows off a great amount of depth and enhanced detail of the Maori village. Black levels are very deep with no trace of black crush or compression artifacts. The contrast is well defined, and there is virtually no print damage to be found. Warner Archive has given this one the 5-star treatment.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a stellar DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that is much of a knockout as the video portion. Dialogue and background noises are represented in perfect harmony with all competing elements so that nothing sounds muddy in the mix. This track shows no discernible age related wear and tear such as popping or hissing. The music complements the competing various sounds quite well, and the score from Bronislau Kaper has never sounded better. The destruction that comes late in the film packs quite a punch in a way that feels more powerful than most pictures from this era. There are also optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film. This audio presentation frankly knocks it out of the park.
Special Features
- Lux Radio Theater Broadcast: The hour-long radio broadcast from September 19, 1949 stars the vocal talents of Lana Turner and Van Heflin reprising their on-screen roles alongside newcomer Peter Lawford. This is greatly condensed but quite interesting to experience.
- Theatrical Trailer: A three-and-a-half-minute trailer for this epic adaptation that draws comparisons to Gone With The Wind and Mutiny On The Bounty and plays up the popular nature of the novel.
Final Thoughts
Green Dolphin Street is a sweeping epic the likes of which we rarely get these days. The film is brimming with unrequited love and regret alongside impressive set pieces and an interesting array of characters. Lana Turner and Donna Reed steal the movie away from their male co-stars, but no one proves to be a weak link amongst this talented ensemble. Warner Archive has rescued this grandiose film for a new generation with a stunning Blu-Ray sporting a flawless A/V presentation and a couple of special features. If you appreciate an expansive character-based drama, this might be a good one to check out instead of watching Gone With The Wind for the hundredth time. Recommended
Green Dolphin Street will be available to purchase on April 13, 2021 from various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
