It was the highest grossing British film of the year, and the first which Lean directed solo, and was nominated for precisely no BAFTAs.* Celia Johnson never felt comfortable in the role but still manages to deliver a sublime performance.
Probably the greatest scene in it is Vi (Eileen Erskine) arriving to announce the death, partly because of the way it begins between aunt and granny (Alison Leggatt and Amy Veness). The former has mellowed and they're no longer at each other's throats - indeed they're gossiping about a letter from Queenie in France. Johnson enters, having had a bad dream, and immediately turns on the radio they've shut down, then she goes out into the garden. Vi enters, breaks the news, gets rid of them, then goes into the garden. The camera tracks across the room, but rather than getting to the point where we can see anyone outside, it comes to rest... Then and only then do the shell-shocked couple come into view, whilst the happy big band music continues...
Just a flat in Alderbrook Road will cost you £700,000.
What happens when the film is finished is a good question. Queenie's off to Singapore. If she's still there in 1942, she's going to be captured or killed by Japanese, Johnny too unless he's luckily at sea. Reg presumably will join up. I can see Frank as an air raid warden and Bob in the Home Guard. Maybe a continuing story would be that of Billy and Queenie's boy growing up in the 1950s?
Wincarnis, by the by, is a fortified wine (17%) a bit like sherry.
It's Shakesepare, by the way. 'This happy breed' is from the famous Richard II speech, 'this sceptred isle' etc.
* That's because there weren't any until 1949.
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