Released a few months before the better-known The Best Years of Our Lives, Till the End of Time also deals with the plight of servicemen returning to their home towns after World War Two. But while Best Years - for all its craftsmanship and excellent performances - strikes me as conventional and highly reliant on stereotyped characters, Till the End of Time offers a complex character study and an almost subversive picture of veterans facing the unrealistic expectations of post-war America. All the main characters in Till the End of Time have been psychologically traumatized by the war; they are all willing to help their friends but seem incapable of helping themselves. In this respect, the film is forward-looking to the character studies, such as Coming Home, made in Hollywood after the Vietnam War.
In his first major screen role and one that would be very demanding for even the most seasoned actor, Guy Madison doesn't consistently rise to the dramatic challenges, but he nicely suggests the innocent quality of a veteran who finds himself unprepared to meet the everyday challenges of civilian life. Madison does register effectively in several of his scenes - notably his homecoming, his initial attraction to Dorothy McGuire at the local bar (one of the fastest "pickups" ever seen in a Production Code Era film), the reunion and subsequent flare-up with his parents, and his testiness with his foreman at his new job. And with his refulgent good looks, Madison's screen presence is probably the most overwhelming display of masculine beauty ever seen on the screen.
Many viewers seem to have a difficult time reconciling the edgy, unappealing aspects of McGuire's character (and her admittedly dowdy appearance) to the actress's intelligent work here, which is totally consistent with the qualities of her character. I appreciate the fact that McGuire avoids leading lady predictability and creates a flesh-and-blood character.
Till the End of Time is a powerful film with believable characters and themes that continue to be highly relevant for today's audiences.
In his first major screen role and one that would be very demanding for even the most seasoned actor, Guy Madison doesn't consistently rise to the dramatic challenges, but he nicely suggests the innocent quality of a veteran who finds himself unprepared to meet the everyday challenges of civilian life. Madison does register effectively in several of his scenes - notably his homecoming, his initial attraction to Dorothy McGuire at the local bar (one of the fastest "pickups" ever seen in a Production Code Era film), the reunion and subsequent flare-up with his parents, and his testiness with his foreman at his new job. And with his refulgent good looks, Madison's screen presence is probably the most overwhelming display of masculine beauty ever seen on the screen.
Many viewers seem to have a difficult time reconciling the edgy, unappealing aspects of McGuire's character (and her admittedly dowdy appearance) to the actress's intelligent work here, which is totally consistent with the qualities of her character. I appreciate the fact that McGuire avoids leading lady predictability and creates a flesh-and-blood character.
Till the End of Time is a powerful film with believable characters and themes that continue to be highly relevant for today's audiences.