June 14 Dorothy McGuire

Happy Birthday Gene Barry, Burl Ives and Dorothy McGuire.

On February 22nd I had a listing that it was Dorothy McGuire’s birthday along with Robert Young. Dorothy McGuire of the McGuire Sisters birthday is February 13th. My information was incorrect. Dorothy McGuire, the actress birthday is June 14 and TCM had a birthday celebration. I watched Till The End of Time. The story is of a group of Marines returning from war. Guy Madison is the main character. He meets war widow Dorothy McGuire through a friend and is attracted to her. When she talked about her husband, she is very matter-of-fact, like she didn’t really care that he was gone. She goes out with a different man, usually a soldier every night. One night Guy sees her kiss a man on her stoop. He is jealous. In her house he calls her a tramp and then leaves. She goes to bed, but doesn’t cry. She is more restless. A short time later he comes back with coffee, as a peace offering and apologizes. They talk and become close and spend time together. One day Dorothy states that she is living on velvet and that Guy is velvet. I don’t get that reference, even though I have seen the Kay Francis film Living on Velvet. Guy is not pleased with that.

Fellow Marine Robert Mitchum is a gambler. He comes to visit Guy to ask for $20 for a big deal. He wants to take Dorothy away to New Mexico to start a ranch. Dorothy does not want to go. At a bar, the soldiers are approached by a group of men who want them to join their organization, but they are “restricted”. This starts a brawl. Robert is gravely hurt and has an operation. After the successful operation Dorothy goes to the hospital to see Guy, they see each other, run towards each other calling each others name when they meet, embrace and kiss.

There is almost something wooden about most of her performance. Maybe it is her voice. It seems very monotone. She doesn’t really stand out in the film. It is definitely Guy Madison’s film, even though Dorothy received top billing.