Another of JM's efficiently directed films for Fox, before he hit the big time, this is based on John Marquand's novel that was then theatricalized before being adapted for the screen by Philip Dunne. It's the story of an old world Bostonian in 1912 (interesting date - everything's about to change) who disapproves of his son (Richard Ney, Mrs Miniver)'s relationship with a self-made man's daughter, preferring him to marry into local blood (Vanessa Brown); and his daughter (Edna Best)'s relationship with a forward thinking English professor (Charles Russell), neither of whom are from the right stock.
In a great turnaround, the self-made man rejects the snobby family, figuring rightly that neither the daughter nor the son will be happy in each other's environment. And thus causing some change in the old man (who, by the way, is Ronald Colman).
It's lightly humorous - someone who lives outside Boston is a 'foreigner' - chuckles partly provided by feisty Mildred Natwick and obsequious Richard Haydn.
Joe LaShelle's photography a little hard to discern in our hazy print but though quite enjoyable it's not the sort of film you'd rush out and buy a Master of Cinema version. Music by Lionel Newman. We saw a slightly truncated version on TPTV - the original is 98 minutes, ours is 92 - thus some odd continuity lapses.
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