SimonJack Charles Brackett and Jacques Thery wrote a wonderful screenplay for a heart-wrenching story about a life that happened more than once, especially around the two world wars of the 20th century. It's a story that needed to be told, and that people should understand. A woman in love with a man in the military becomes pregnant out of wedlock, and the man is killed in the war. To have a baby in those times, without a husband, brought deep shame on a woman, and her family. It meant social ostracizing. That was the culture of many centuries that existed past the middle of the 20th century. Yet these women were mothers, and most wanted their babies. They were the offspring of the men they loved. But to bear the child in one's hometown or neighborhood would be unthinkable. So, some of the young such mothers married other men to have a father for their child. Most others went off to relatives or close family friends elsewhere to have their babies. Some were put up for adoption. Others were raised by relatives. The orphanages of the day were frequent places where such babies were left on doorsteps to be found and cared for. Some mothers kept track of their children, others didn't. Adoption policies then were much more restrictive than those of today. "To Each His Own" tells one such story, and Paramount couldn't have found a better actress to play the lead than Olivia de Havilland. She is one of the best performers of all time. Her Jody Norris portrays so perfectly what so many young women of her age and time must have felt and gone through. Her angst and fear, her love and devotion, her sadness and resolve – we feel something of all the emotions of a loving mother frustrated at her inability to have and to raise her child. De Havilland is one of the few actresses who could play this role so realistically and convincingly. The Motion Picture Academy agreed when it awarded her the 1946 Oscar as best actress. She won over a field of great performances in great films that reached far beyond those of the handful of nominees. De Havilland is joined here by a superb cast, all of whom give wonderful performances. Mary Anderson, who never reached much acclaim in her long career, gives one of her best performances. Her Corinne Piersen might have gained her an Academy Award nomination in another year without so many great films and performances. Phillip Terry is very good as Alex Piersen who is faithful to wife Corrine, but still pined for Jody. John Lund is very good in his dual roles. Roland Culver is just right for the character of Lord Desham, a man who helps bring some happiness into the life of Jody in mid-life. All others of a sizable cast are excellent. "To Each His Own" is an excellent film in all its technical areas. Mitchell Leisen did a tremendous job in directing, and all the film, camera, sound and editing work shine. The costuming and makeup excel, as Jody looks the perfect part of a woman in scenes 25 years apart. The flashback technique is this film works very well. It wasn't necessary but probably made the ending more dramatic where we see Jody's character change from grouchy to soft. This is a wonderful film that all should enjoy. It's a nice slice of sociology study for the period from before World War I to World War II. Yet, I can't help wonder, considering the dislike between them, how the film might have turned out had Joan Fontaine played Corinne. She probably wouldn't have taken the role – to play second fiddle to her older sister by one year. What tremendous talent these two sisters had. Olivia and Joan were born of English parents and seemed to have inherited their talent and love of acting from their mother, Lillian Fontaine. Joan Fontaine won the best actress Oscar in 1942 for "Suspicion." She beat out Olivia who was nominated for her role in "Hold Back the Dawn." Joan was nominated two more times for Oscars, and later was nominated for a daytime Emmy award. Olivia won two Oscars – the other being for "The Heiress" in 1949. She was nominated three more times. She also won two Golden Globes, with one more nomination and a prime time Emmy nomination in her later career.Two other English families had multiple stars who loved acting. The most prominent was probably the Redgraves. Father Michael, son Corin, and daughters Lynn and Vanessa were prominent stars of stage and screen in the 20th century – the children into the 21st century. Another English family of film and theater would be that of John Mills and Mary Hayley Bell. Their daughters Hayley and Juliet became stage and screen actors.Perhaps the most famous talented family of actors of all time have been the Barrymores of America. Brothers Lionel and John and sister Ethel commanded top billing for the first half of the 20th century. They had later theater progeny, the most recent being Drew Barrymore. She is the granddaughter of John.

jotix100 We meet Jody Norris as she prepares for a night duty, as a volunteer,in war torn London during WWII. Her companion that evening is an outspoken man, who turns out to be Lord Desham, a well respected gentleman with the right connections. Jody, who has made a fortune in England, is paying back for the generosity she received while living there. At first, she is snippy with Desham, whom she does not care for as they meet. She becomes alive after Desham takes her for a drink and learns about the arrival of a train to Euston.While she waits, we get to know her story, which has not been a happy one. The son she had from a meeting with an Air Force ace, left her pregnant in a small town where the mere fact would have been quite a shock. The boy she delivers, by a strange set of coincidences, ends up with one of the town's richest girls. Jody's pilot lover, dying in combat, left her to fend for herself. Since she cannot have her son, she decides to go to New York to start a new life and becomes quite successful in a line of ladies' cosmetics with a friend. As the train arrives to Euston, one realizes she has waited for Gregory, the son that was taken away from her, who like his father, is involved in another war. Jody must do everything in her power to keep him for his stay in London, but she is not prepared for his plans to share his free time with the girl he wants to marry, who happens to be in the war. Finally, through Desham's intervention, Gregory realizes who this generous woman really is."To Each His Own" directed by Michael Leisen was one of the best melodramas from that era. Charles Brackett added another success to his great career in Hollywood with the screenplay he wrote with Jacques Thiery. It was an excellent combination for this inspired film that gave its star Olivia De Havilland her well deserved recognition in a role she made her own. The story reminded this viewer of that old biblical story of King Solomon and the two women claiming to be the rightful mother of an infant. The real mother renouncing to her right because she did not want the infant divided in two, relates to the sacrifice Jody Norris must make since everything conspired against her having her own son. In the end, she is rewarded when the son recognizes her love for him through the years.The well deserved award by Ms. De Havilland was a tribute to the way she created a character that was real as well as noble. The actress showed she had what it took to carry a picture with panache. John Lund is seen briefly as the father and the son in the life of Jody Norris. There are remarkable performances of players like Mary Anderson, Ronald Culver, Philip Terry, Bill Goodwin, and Victoria Horne, among others.Daniel Fapp, veteran of many films, contributed with his black and white cinematography. The music score by Victor Young reflected the times in which the action took place. Michael Leisen was inspired in his approach to the way he presented the story which deserves a view even as the picture is seldom seen these days.

sdave7596 Believing she wasn't getting kind of roles she wanted at Warner Brothers, Olivia de Havilland sued the studio to get out of her contract and for several years didn't appear in films. Olivia finally won her suit, and this film, "To Each His Own" was her first for Paramount Pictures; and it is a gem of movie. Olivia plays Jody Norris, and she performs the role from a young naive woman to a somewhat hardened middle-aged one. The film is told in flashbacks; we first see an older Jody living in London during World War II. Jody had a son some 20 years earlier out of wedlock by a young pilot who is later killed. Because it was scandalous to be an unwed mother at the time, she concocts a scheme to have her baby raised by a wealthy couple (Mary Anderson and Philip Terry) in town. The scheme backfires on her, and they adopt the boy. Jody goes on to acquire wealth, but she always longs for her son. She gets the chance when the young man (John Lund) is stationed in London. The ending is slightly predictable, but what saves this film from becoming overly sentimental and sappy (although it is a tear-jerker) is the fine performance of Olivia de Havilland. The script is great, and the subject of unwed pregnancy is actually handled in a mature manner for 1946. There are some fine supporting performances of note, particularly Mary Anderson, playing Corrine, the neurotic woman who adopts her son. John Lund plays a dual role, that of Jody's lover and later her grown son. He does a fine job. Roland Culver is good as Lord Desham, a new love interest for Jody. A fine old Hollywood film, made the way they used to make them!

cjohnso8 The title of the movie was misleading,but as a huge fan of Ms. de Havilland, I watched this movie. It was a very tender story of the enduring and endearing love a mother had for her child.It brought to mind the contrast of today's societal views of unwed mothers(as it were).The story made me even more grateful to have 3 wonderful sons.I would love watch this movie with my mom and my five sister,on the day before mothers' day. What a good way to have your 'tears jerked'! What a celebration of motherhood!I will be happy when it is released on DVD. Hopefully very soon.