The Years Between

Michael Redgrave, Valerie Hobson, Flora Robson and Felix Aylmer star in this moving and sophisticated story of love and loss set against the backdrop of the Second World War and based on the play by Daphne du Maurier. After hearing news that her officer husband has been killed in battle, Diana Wentworth forges a new life for herself, becoming an MP and learning to love again. Then, out of the blue comes the shattering news that her husband is not dead after all.

Valerie Hobson ("Diana") is widowed during WWII - her late husband, the local Member of Parliament. After an extended period of mourning that shows little sign of ending, her nanny Flora Robson sets a few wheels in motion that results in her former charge being elected to succeed her husband in Parliament. Initially nervous, she ultimately rises to the task, and manages to fall in love again - this time, thanks to a timely air-raid, with "Richard" (James McKenchnie). Then an altogether different sort of bomb drops - and she must rewind her life some four years and deal with some truly unforeseen circumstances. Hobson is good in this film, as is Robson who delivers quite a few poignant one-liners and even a short speech towards the end on the responsibilities and opportunities of those left to win the peace after the war had been won. Michael Redgrave also features, as "Col. Wentworth", a troubled man with a mission that involved all sorts of sacrifices for King and Country. "Diana" develops her newly found role into one of determination and humanity - she takes up the cudgels for a great many women who were left at home, widowed; their children relocated, having to make ends meet as best they can in the face of the horror of war. It's got something more real about it, this film and as their postman always moans: "things will never be the same again" - he might well be right.