Romancefest 2018: I'll Be Seeing You

Hey, it's three Ginger Rogers movies in a row and why not – it's Romancefest. In 1944's I'LL BE SEEING YOU (directed by William Dieterle) we get something a little different from Rogers – instead of singing and dancing her way across the screen, this time she stars as a woman convicted of manslaughter who is able to take a holiday leave from prison for good behavior, and travels to visit her Aunt, Uncle and younger cousin (teenage Shirley Temple).

On the train, she meets a veteran (Joseph Cotten) suffering from what we now call PTSD and the two strike up a timid romance as they try to get close to each other without revealing their secrets – Rogers that she's in prison and Cotten that he's suffering from anxiety attacks.

There's a side plot with Temple learning not to pre-judge someone in Rogers' circumstances, and overall the movie works as a sweet message-driven movie about overcoming what you perceive as your own weaknesses and allowing yourself to be loved for who you are. It helps that Cotten is a bonafide actor's actor and not just a hunky leading man.

I never see this movie listed as a Christmas movie, but it does take place over the holidays and features many Christmassy elements, so if you're ever looking for something a little different for the holidays, check this one out.