RICK'S REAL/REEL LIFE: Till the End of Time 1946

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Till the End of Time 1946

Guy Madison & Dorothy McGuire team up for 1946's "Till the End of Time."

RKO’s Till the End of Time is a post-WWII drama about veterans who return home and readjust to civilian life, which anticipated instant classic The Best Years of Our Lives by four months. While not of the same caliber, Time’s virtues are at least its own, as it came first.

This was Guy Madison’s second film and first starring role, after his eye-catching cameo in David Selznick’s wartime drama, Since You Went Away. Till the End of Time has much in common with that home front war drama, too. Again, while smaller in scope, Time has that same sentimental take on family and patriotism, but is occasionally leavened by clear insights on readjusting soldiers.

The stars of "Till the End of Time," in true movie fashion, are instantly gaga
for each other--though in this case it's not hard to see why!

The romance between returning Marine Cliff Harper (Guy Madison) and war widow Pat Ruscomb (Dorothy McGuire) is predictably instantaneous. This film was a big hit, what with new heart throb Guy and fresh leading lady Dorothy.

What makes Till the End of Time interesting, at least by today’s standards, is the snap shot of the post-war era, even with its gloss. You get a somewhat realistic look at how people lived, the social values, and how veterans were treated upon returning home. There are a number of small scenes that are heartfelt, such as the vet at the counter suffering PTSD or Bill Williams’ amputee refusing to wear his prosthetics, or Dorothy’s war widow getting unfairly judged about her morals.

McGuire's Pat & Madison's Cliff talk down a vet with a case of PTSD in "Till the End of Time."

The cast, with many familiar faces, is a major plus. Guy Madison is no master thespian, but that’s not why he was chosen for the role of Cliff, the all-American boy. Guy’s line readings are indeed amateurish, but he has a genial charm, plus Madison was one of the most handsome men to step in front of a movie camera. It’s interesting that Guy was only three years older than Rock Hudson. While both actors’ agent was the notorious Henry Willson, who gave them their movie monikers, their studios handled them quite differently. Universal gave Rock the slow build up and Hudson honed what talent he had. David Selznick’s studio made few films and he just flesh peddled his actors out—three appear in this film. So, it was sink or swim for Guy Madison.

The extent of grooming Guy Madison for stardom seemed to not go beyond
photographing his beautiful face and body.

"I don't remember this scene in the script!"

Finally, it was Time’s second male lead who inadvertently demonstrated why Madison’s movie career soon fizzled—Robert Mitchum. While handsome men continued to get the buildup in Hollywood, it was the anti-heroes and rugged actors like Mitchum who led the way in post-war Hollywood: Mitchum, Lancaster, and Kirk Douglas, etc. Mitchum’s sardonic manner made him the next Bogart, while Madison went straight to TV and B westerns. As Cliff’s likeable but hell-raising best pal, Bob’s a scene stealer.

This photo has gotten a bit of notoriety, but don't worry,
Robert Mitchum's character just has a metal plate in his head!

I’ve noticed in film reviews and comments that Dorothy McGuire gets criticized as “dowdy” and “too old” as a leading lady for Guy Madison. Well, McGuire’s Pat IS supposed to be older than boyish Guy. A whole six years—horrors! As for dowdy, Dorothy often played unglamorous and later, motherly roles—but her looks were usually glamorous but subtle. As alleged mantrap Pat, RKO gives her the ‘40s glamour treatment with big hair and clothes that engulf her, but McGuire still shines through. For comparison, check out how chic McGuire looks in the next year’s Gentleman’s Agreement. Dorothy is miscast as the neighborhood femme fatale, but she requested the part. Frankly, McGuire plays it no differently than her other leading lady roles, so Pat is smart and sympathetic. And if she’s lonely and wants to have sex, why shouldn’t she? Surprisingly, Pat isn’t required to pay for her “sins” at the movie’s finale.

Dorothy McGuire as war widow Pat in "Till the End of Time."

Jean Porter, an audience favorite of the ‘40s, took over the role of nubile neighbor Helen for Shirley Temple, who got married instead. Porter is even more annoyingly perky than Temple, and gets a lot of screen time love from future husband, director Edward Dmytryk. Except for Eddie’s lavish attention to Jean’s skating and jitterbugging skills, Dmytryk directs a pretty tight film here, especially in the Marines’ homecoming scenes.

I had the same reaction as Guy Madison listening to Jean Porter's prattle!

Bill Williams is suitably bitter as Perry, the injured Marine. Like Madison, Williams later played a TV cowboy, Kit Carson. Bill married Perry Mason’s Barbara Hale, and their son, William Katt, was TV’s The Greatest American Hero.

Bill Williams as Perry, the amputee Marine, in "Till the End of Time."

Watch for Blake Edwards as the shop boss who Madison’s Cliff gets huffy with. Edwards later went on to direct Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Days of Wine and Roses, and 10, to name just a few of his films.

The rest of the cast, like Tom Tully and Ruth Nelson as Cliff’s worried parents, Selena Royle as Perry’s mother, William Gargan as the Sgt., Richard Benedict as the vet with PTSD, and many other familiar faces, all play their parts well.

Till the End of Time may not be a timeless classic, but it’s a sincere snap shot of an important time in our country’s history.