Most of the story in this five-hanky British melodrama takes place over a 50 year period within a single London home, 99 Wiltshire Place, the birth place of a noted general who has not been back since he was a young man and had a terrible wrenching fight with his sister over his love for their adopted sister. Just before he stormed out, he vowed that he would never return until the troublesome sibling, who was always jealous of the beautiful orphan girl, died. Many years pass and the general now sits there alone with his old butler musing about his lost love. His American granddaughter, an ambulance driver for the war effort, shows up distraught. It seems she has fallen in love with the Canadian nephew of the general's old flame and is undecided whether she marry him right away or wait until after the war. He then tells her his tragic tale in hopes that she will change her mind. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Review by All Movie Guide
All Movie Guide
is neutral about it.
Fans of star-crossed lover romances will find a great deal to like to Enchantment, but those who don't take wholeheartedly to this genre may not be so delighted. For the latter, Enchantment may come across as somewhat dull, for Irving G. Reis has directed the film in a manner that is perhaps a bit too deliberate. These same viewers may also take great exception to what they may perceive as the spinelessness of the leading characters, particularly that played by
David Niven. Indeed, it is easy to grow impatient with Niven's character, who lets his domineering sister set things up and push him around without putting up a believable fight. However, those who are willing to dismiss these and other shortcomings will be rewarded with some carefully wrought tear jerking scenes and a delicious climax that should fulfill all of their romantic needs for quite some time. And all viewers should take a great deal of pleasure in Niven's smooth as silk performance and in the sheer radiance of the sublime
Teresa Wright.
Jayne Meadows, as the jealous and controlling sister, tears up the screen at every chance she is given, and Leo G. Carroll is quite appealing as Niven's right hand. These players more than make up from
Evelyn Keyes' adequate-but-n-more niece and
Farley Granger's rather unimpressive modern lover. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide