kijii This Korda film is a fairly good comedy that won an Oscar for Best Original Story. It starts out a little slow and the ending is fairly predictable; however, it is loaded with some of the best British film actors of that time and the story's process is full of humor and very good touches.As the film opens, we see the picture of a boring, routine marriage. Robert Wilson (Robert Donat) has worked as clerk in a large office for 5 years (minus 8 weeks). It is 1940 and Bob has just been drafted into the British Royal Navy for the duration of the war. For all men working for FIVE YEARS OR MORE, it's the company policy to hold their jobs and continue their pay level by making up the difference between what they allow them to collect (during the war) and what the military pays them. Bob is hopeful that his 4 years and 44 weeks with the company will make him a five-year man. It doesn't. He loses both his company's job security and its partial pay supplement.After this wimpy man climbs breathlessly up the stairs to his London flat, he tells his mousy wife, Catherine (Deborah Kerr). She merely shrugs it off with a sneeze and sniff from her perpetual cold. Bob reports to the navy training camp and starts writing Cathy. She soon joins the WRENs (the British version of the WAVES), and they both dutifully write each other. As time passes they both become more competent people, leading more exciting lives in the service than they ever had during their marriage at home. Gradually, their letter writing starts to wane and their positive memories of each other start to fade; their memories become stuck on each other's most negative attributes.While in the service, Cathy commanding officer, Dizzy (Glynis Johns), introduces her to her cousin, Richard (Roland Culver). She becomes infatuated with this worldly man who paints her portrait and teaches her to dance.Both Bob and Cathy do some semi-heroic things in the service, building their confidence in themselves. After Bob's hands are burned while in action, he hospitalized to recuperate with his new Scottish buddy, Scotty (Edward Rigby). While there, he falls briefly in love with his recently-widowed nurse, Elena (Ann Todd). Her role is similar to that that Richard has with Cathy: passing flings that make them feel good about themselves.After three and half years of service, they both get leaves to return home--at the same time!!. However, neither is too anxious to see the other. When they take their leaves, each brings along their new service buddies: Cathy brings Dizzy and Bob brings Scotty. Of course, they have to get reacquainted, review their past views of each other, and introduce their new selves to each other. Though the outcome of the film is fairly obvious, the process of the renewed romance between the two 'new' people is entertaining, with some fireworks and protestations about each other's memories of their 'former' marriage.

MartinHafer I love the idea behind "Vacation from Marriage". After all, with spouses separated for years during WWII and with so much social upheaval, it's not surprising that marriages were seriously disrupted, strained and often ruined. Yet, oddly, very, very few films talk about it. Off the top of my head, the only other one which addressed this was "The Best Years of Our Lives".The film begins with a married couple (Robert Donat and Deborah Kerr) living very, very ordered and predictable lives together. But because of the war, he is drafted in and she soon volunteers for the service. Due to their experiences, they both slowly evolve in unexpected directions. And, the more they change, the more they both start to wonder if the marriage can stand these changes. After all, neither wants to go back to their old, dull lives. Yet, because they haven't seen each other in three years, neither is sure how to address this when they meet. Overall, it's a very well acted film--with lovely writing and adept direction. Well worth seeing.By the way, at one point in the movie Robert Donat's character is talking with Ann Todd and she talks about explorers. She then says that Captain John Smith married Pocahontas. As a retired history teacher, I cringed, as she married John Rolfe. In fact, according to some accounts, she couldn't stand Smith!

ViewInSepia We saw this movie years ago on AMC and taped it. Fortunately, it is now available on DVD. The US version is shorter by 9 minutes, and I keep wondering what I have missed. It would be nice if the "Perfect Strangers" full version could be had.I won't repeat any of the plot here, but I will mention a few scenes and details that might be missed. First off, the attention to detail is fabulous. The funky London smokestacks, the military uniforms, the barrage balloons, even the casting-off drill on the WREN's launch. Robert's love interest Elena is of course a member of Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service, in a spot-on white dress uniform.As some other reviewers have pointed out, the ending is not as good as it could have been. The argument in the street is rather contrived, and I always wonder what happened to Chief Petty Officer McAllister - he just sort of wanders off at 3 or 4 in the morning, with no obvious place to go. This scene needed to be redone! But far and away the best scene in the movie is when Robert and Cathy finally set eyes on one another in the pub. In particular, Cathy stares and stares at Robert, seemingly forever, not believing her eyes. I don't know how Deborah Kerr managed this, but Cathy somehow looked Robert up and down, without changing the position of her eyes. It is awesome!

silenceisgolden What a screenplay this movie has! It's wonderful! It's a simple story but it's executed wonderfully! You truly feel for the main characters. Deborah Kerr has never been a favorite of mine but she is wonderful in this film. Robert Donat, as usual, is brilliant! I highly recommend this to fans of classic romances. It is sweet, humorous in parts, and REAL! I wish Donat had done more films when he was around, but I shouldn't complain. I'm just glad he was smart enough to always take good roles in quality films. Kerr and Donat sparkle in this and Glynis Johns is so perky! Like a little cheerleader! This is great fun! I'll stop rambling now, if this is ever shown on TCM, you must watch it!