Summer Under the Stars: Patricia Neal

Star of the Day: Patricia Neal

John Loves Mary (1949): "A World War II veteran's marriage of convenience threatens his real wedding plans."

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I've been looking forward to this one! John Loves Mary has been on my Letterboxd watchlist forever and when I saw it on the TCM schedule, I knew that this would be the top new-to-me film I had to see this month. It didn't disappoint! I love these cheeky, heartfelt wartime rom-coms and Patricia, who, in my mind, is such a revered dramatic actress, is a delight in her first film role. (If you've read this blog before you know that I'm not a Ronald Reagan fan, so we'll skip him; he didn't impress me much in this.) I also love it when Jack Carson pops up in films, so bonus points!

Patricia always seemed so classy and earthy and polished with a glamorous veneer. I know she had struggles in her personal life and with her health, but when you watch one of her films you're immediately transported into the life of her character. I think she's one of the biggest talents and one of the most underappreciated stars of Old Hollywood. 

Must own John and Mary on DVD!