The White Cliffs of Dover (1944)

First of all, you never see the white cliffs of Dover in the film, so that's not good. I'm displeased.
Now, to the film. The plot is oddly paced, focusing greatly on the chase between stubborn American Susan Dunn (the great Irene Dunne) and the Brit John Ashwood (Alan Marshal). They love each other and though Susan loves England and its culture and history, she also finds it bizarre and old-fashioned. But he loves her and wants her to be his wife so he won't let her board the ship to America, so she marries him. He tragically dies in the first world war, but not before knocking her up which leads to the next plot.
Naturally, Susan's little boy grows up, first portrayed as a young teenager by Roddy McDowell and then as a young man by the wooden Peter Lawford. The plot also picks up speed rather rapidly. Though a new war is brewing in Germany, young John can't leave the land of his father. The estate is similar to Downton Abbey but not nearly as grand looking in mere black and white. He learns how to work the land and when war returns, he enlists. Susan becomes a nurse and when John is injured in battle, he miraculously ends up at the hospital where Susan is working where he passes away.
So, while Dunne is simply marvelous, the film doesn't add up to much and the male performances aren't inspiring nor are the characters worthy of any interest and worst of all, this is a romance film without any sort of happy ending. Both Johns are dead. Susan is utterly alone in the world, in a land far from home. It's sad all around. Grade: B
Side Notes:
-Keep an eye out for a young unbilled Elizabeth Taylor as the village girl, Betsy.
-Also nitpick. the only scene where John wears a wedding ring is when he's in a bunker, never in the scenes actually with his wife.
-There are good supporting turns by Gladys Cooper as Susan's mother-in-law and Dame May Whitty as the nanny. When Susan goes to visit John in France, Nanny says that John had better do his duty as her arms are empty. Yeah, that was a somewhat odd scene.
-Though I did want John and Susan to end up together, I can't get behind a relationship where the guy forces the woman to pick something against her wishes.
-Despite being set entirely in England (except for the boat scene), the film has a lot of American nationalism throughout as America is portrayed as the hero who helps Europe win the wars, which may or may not be true.