Actors - Random Harvest

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Random Harvest is a historical fiction novel written by James Hilton, first published in 1941. Like previous Hilton works, including Lost Horizon and Goodbye, Mr. Chips
, the novel was immensely popular, placing second on The New York Times list of bestselling novels for the year. Though set during the immediate aftermath of World War I, the novel featured the timely subjects of CRS, or "shellshock." World War II, which was being fought as the novel was written, provided an extensive case study for the condition.

The novel was successfully adapted into a film of the same name in 1942 under the direction of Mervyn LeRoy. Claudine West, George Froeschel and Arthur Wimperis adapted the novel for the screen, and received an Academy Award nomination for their work. Though the film departs from the novel's narrative in several significant ways, the novel would have proved nearly impossible to transfer to film otherwise. The film starred Ronald Colman and Greer Garson in the lead roles of a former soldier who has lost his memory and all identification, and his patient, caring love.

Upon the film's release, it was an instant critical and commercial success. Its seven Academy Award nominations included nods for Ronald Colman, supporting actress Susan Peters, director Melvyn LeRoy, and the Best Picture. Greer Garson, whose performance was well-received, was ineligible for the Academy Award for Best Actress, as she was already nominated that year for her role in Mrs. Miniver
. Despite a loyal following, the film was unavailable on VHS and DVD formats until the 2005 Warner Home Video release of the restored and remastered version of the film.

Plot

Film summary

The film opens during the closing days of World War I. "John Smith" (Ronald Colman) is a soldier who was gassed and shellshocked in the trenches and is confined to an asylum because he has lost his memory. When the war ends, jubilation reigns in the nearby town of Melbridge and the gatekeepers abandon their posts to join the celebration. With no one to stop him, Smith simply wanders off.

In town, he is befriended by Paula (Greer Garson), a kindly showgirl, who takes him under her wing. After she discovers he has left the hospital, but is perfectly fine except for his memory loss, she arranges for him to join her traveling theatrical group. After an incident that could result in his being discovered and returned to the hospital, Paula takes Smith away to a secluded country village where they marry and are blissfully happy.

"Smithy", as Paula calls him, discovers a literary talent and tries writing to earn a living. He gets an offer from a newspaper in Liverpool to come for an interview and he leaves Paula and their newborn baby for an overnight trip into the city. On his way to the interview, he is struck by a taxi. He awakens in a chemists shop, his memory restored, but his life with Paula now forgotten. He is Charles Rainier, son of a wealthy businessman.

He returns home to learn of his father's recent death. His siblings are amazed, and some not all that pleased, since he inherits a large portion of his late father's estate. One of those who welcome him home is Kitty, step-daughter of one of Charles' siblings. She becomes infatuated with her "uncle."

Charles yearns for a life of scholarship, but the family's mismanaged business needs him and he puts off his own desires to rescue the family fortune and the many workers who depend on him for employment.

Meanwhile, Paula has been searching for her Smithy. Losing their son in infancy, Paula returns to work as a secretary. One day she sees a photo in a newspaper, touting the accomplishments of Charles Rainier, the "Industrial Prince of England". A doctor she consults warns her not to reveal her identity. She manages to obtain a position as his assistant, hoping he will recognize her, but he doesn't.

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Actors - Random Harvest

Plot

Film summary

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