jacobs-greenwood Directed by John Cromwell, with a screenplay by DeWitt Bodeen and Herman J. Mankiewicz that was based on a play by Arthur Wing Pinero, this slightly above average romance drama stars Dorothy McGuire, Robert Young, Herbert Marshall, Mildred Natwick, and Spring Byington (among others). The film's Score was nominated for an Academy Award, representing the last Oscar nomination for Roy Webb.Herbert Marshall plays Major John Hillgrove, a blind pianist (due to injuries received as a pilot during World War I) who recalls this story in flashback:Laura Pennington (McGuire) was a homely young woman who found employment working for Mrs. Abigail Minnett (Natwick) when the war widow housekeeper needed a maid to help put and keep her cottage in order for a young 'about to be married' couple that wanted to rent it. The cottage, thought to be haunted, was really an enchanted one in Laura's eyes, the only part of a much larger castle-sized estate that remained and used to be rented exclusively to honeymoon couples. Mrs. Minnett discontinued the practice when her husband was killed in the war some 24 years earlier. Oliver Bradford (Young) had discovered the cottage, begged and convinced Mrs. Minnett to rent it to him, and his bride-to-be Beatrice Alexander (Hillary Brooke). Laura tells Oliver about the cottage's history and shows him where the newlyweds had etched their names on a window. However, pilot Oliver is called to fight World War II before the wedding.Oliver returns to the cottage alone one year later, after being injured and scarred, his face and emotionally, and crippled during the war. He wants to avoid all human contact, especially with Beatrice, his mother Violet (Byington) and his stepfather Freddy Price (Richard Gaines). However, he gets to know Laura, who's still living there having been earlier embarrassed at a canteen when no one wanted to dance with her; she's kind to him, understanding what it is to be ugly. Oliver is also befriended by John, who gets about with the aid of his nephew Danny (Alec Englander). In time, Oliver and Laura grow close and even marry, out of convenience, but their relationship quickly grows into true love, one that transform their views of one another into a belief that they've both become beautiful. They share this remarkable occurrence with John who, based on their description of Mrs. Minnett's reaction, understands the situation. He tells them to 'go with it', steal the moment and enjoy their good fortune.Unfortunately, both learn the truth of the matter later, when Violet and Freddy come for a visit and Oliver's mother can't help but express her pity for them both, despite John's prior preparation, warnings, and pleadings. There has been no physical transformation (something which would have been readily obvious if the couple had been touching one another, right?), though Mrs. Minnett was inspired to live in the present. But, whereas John had assumed that this information would have been the couple's undoing, it doesn't affect them. Both realize that the real miracle is their love, and they scratch their names on the window. The final scene, back in 'present' times, shows John playing the piano at a party; he'd been waiting for the Bradfords to arrive. Oliver and Laura get there, but they stop and kiss at the door before entering (and the film ends before they do).

Panama Smith "Beauty is no quality in things themselves: It exists merely in the mind which contemplates them; and each mind perceives a different beauty." - David Hume, philosopherThe quote above captures the elegance and effervescence of "The Enchanted Cottage". Two souls who have been bruised by life, find happiness together in "The Enchanted Cottage". Laura (Dorothy McGuire), is a maid at the cottage, while engaged couple Oliver (Robert Young) and Beatrice (Hillary Brooke) plan on honeymooning there in a short while. John Hillgrove (Herbert Marshall) is a blind man whose vision is more than 20/20 when it comes to a person's true goodness. The cottage's caretaker, Mrs. Abigail Minnett (Mildred Natwick) has seen couples come and go to this little location of love. Mrs. Minnett and Laura share a sisterhood of solitude, which only a lonely soul can comprehend. As in this short interaction between them from the film, both women hold that hollowness of a heart hoping for light: Mrs. Abigail Minnett - Do you know what loneliness is, real loneliness?Laura Pennington - Yes.Mrs. Abigail Minnett - I thought you would.From the outside, this cottage and the grounds surrounding it, may not have the appearance of a five-star hotel. But, it is what is seen through the eyes of affection and adoration that brings the decor to life. As we all know, sometimes life doesn't go as planned. In this film, what may seem to be a tragedy; actually is a blessing in disguise. Oliver returns to the cottage alone and he and Laura find they are kindred souls. More than just physical beauty is what they see in one another. It is that light inside of them, which brings out the glow on their surfaces. Yet, the main character is not one flesh and bone; but it is a cottage of hopes and dreams. It proves that dreams of devotion never truly die; for they just hibernate amongst the snowflakes of Winter. It just takes a warm heart to change tears of isolation into tears of joy. "The Enchanted Cottage" is not just a place to visit. It is a state of mind that will remain in your heart, long after you watch this treasure.

dougdoepke I suspect the movie is mostly a matter of taste. It does get pretty sticky toward the end. Nonetheless, it's a slick production even if RKO's idea of uglyfying the lovely McGuire is to thicken the eyebrows and leave off the makeup. I wish they would have really made her homely; that way the story would be even more poignant. But Hollywood being Hollywood, there's no way they would have chanced the audience sticking with a truly homely female lead, in make-up or not.The moral, however, is a strong one—the transformative power of love. Oliver (Young) senses Laura's (McGuire) inner beauty, such that in his eyes her inner beauty is transformed magically by the enchanted cottage into an outer beauty, as well. At the same time, Laura transforms his crippled arm into a body made whole by the power of her love inside the enchanted cottage. Of course, the changes only exist in the eyes of the lovers, and once others reveal this to the lovers, they must deal with their true physical appearance, which they are able to do thanks to the love they now share. This is all brought off in fairly effective fashion, thanks to McGuire's compelling performance and RKO's outstanding art and set departments, respectively. The exterior sets, in particular, complement the overall special mood. Then too, McGuire was always able to project a soulful quality when needed. I darn near cried when Laura, liberated from her duties as a kitchen drudge, is snubbed at the dance. Catch her fleeting expressions of hope as they pass into defeat as the young soldiers, one by one, withdraw from her physical plainness. It's heart-breaking. For me, it was a compelling performance. Also, Herbert Marshall's pivotal role as the blind pianist shouldn't be overlooked. He, of course, is able to sense the inner worthiness of the disfigured lovers before they themselves do. And Marshall brings it off in typically persuasive fashion.The movie's basically a romantic parable, sticking to that theme throughout. In short, the results are certainly not a Rambo or The Terminator, and thus, not everyone's cup of tea. But the movie (despite the few flaws) certainly works for me, hauntingly, since I first saw it many, many years ago.

madfliesler My husband & I watched this with great expectations but were disappointed. We felt the acting was poor and the dialog strained. The idea was interesting, however, but it was just a bit too sappy.The beginning was good with the parents & fiancé - the set up of the cottage and all but the movie tried to tell the story of too many characters, failing to develop any of them properly.Too many feelings were running amok! The idea that on their wedding night, Laura plays a ditty on the piano, a new feeling comes over the enchanted cottage, she knows her marriage is a sham, and on and on and on. Whoa! Develop one thought! And, if they said "enchanted" one more time...!