The film transcription of James Hilton’s novel Random Harvest, under Sidney Franklin’s production and Mervyn LeRoy’s direction, achieves much more than average importance.
Ronald Colman plays Charles Rainier, prosperous Briton who loses his memory as result of shellshock in the First World War. As the film opens he is a mental case in an asylum where efforts are being made to restore his memory. He wanders off, eluding officers of the sanatorium.
Colman gives a fine performance but is not quite the romantic type that he was years ago. In fact, he looks older than he should have been for film expediency.
Greer Garson, more charming and seductive than ever, is an important mainstay of the picture. Essaying a highly sympathetic role, she overshadows Colman.
1942: Nominations: Best Picture, Director, Actress (Susan Peters), Screenplay, B&W Art Direction, Scoring of a Dramatic Picture
