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I let this blog fall into disrepair. I started this thing as an experiment for the company I was working for. Nw. I'm not sure what I want to do with it.. For the moment, I'll post some of the things that I also post ay the TCM Film Union. My thoughts on Classic Movies.


Please tell me what you think.

Three Comrades or Who couldn’t be in love with Margaret Sullivan?


Stephen Ambrose in his book “Band of Brothers” , wrote about comrades. “Comrades are closer that friends, Closer than Brothers, their relationship is different that lovers. Their trust and knowledge of each other is Total.

Those words came ringing through to me when I saw the film Three Comrades recently. The story revolves around 3 soldiers, late of the German Army of World War One. Otto (Franchot Tone), Gottfried, (Robert Young) and Eric (Robert Taylor), had seen the worst of the war and were now living the worst of the peace. The Germany they came home to was in political turmoil and economic depression. But, the Comradeship that got them through the war, held them together in these tough times. They meet Pat (Margaret Sullivan) and her profiteer boyfriend at Eric’s birthday Celebration and Eric and Pat fall in love. At the same time, I fall in love with Margaret Sullivan too.

The Magisterial Robert Osborne once said in a introduction to the film (“The Mortal Storm”, I think) James Stewart said he fell in love with Margaret Sullivan every time he worked with her. You couldn’t help it. In Black & White, Margaret Sullivan was the woman you wanted to protect, and love and take care of. In the role of Pat, She was sort of a “Party Girl”. But when she meets Eric the youngest of our 3 comrades. She is wise in the ways of the world, He is rather naïve and that is what makes them a pair. His friends help him in this romance, and they too fall in love with her.

Pat and Erich marry, Soon, we find out what made her a “Party Girl”, She has Tuberculosis. On their Honeymoon, she has a near fatal attack. Eric calls his friends and they come through. Gottfried locates her doctor; Otto drives the doctor to the resort through bad roads and fog to save her. Instead of getting married to one man she has 3 of them looking after her.

She recovers, but, “Her Boys” are working harder to support her in a Germany is sliding further into political and finical chaos. They send Pat off to a sanitarium that can’t afford. The boys sell their business to keep Pat there. A sniper kills Gottfried during a political demonstration. Now Otto and Eric are supporting her. Not complaining, in fact willing to make any sacrifices for her. Otto finds Gottfried murderer and kills him. Now Pat’s care had put them in the deeper in debt. The Boys sell their last major possession to pay for it. She then takes control of the situation and …….well I’ll let you see the film.

I’m like Mr. Stewart, Who couldn’t be in love with a woman like that.

I await you thoughts and comments.