Since You Went Away (1944) in Color — Starring Claudette Colbert & Jennifer Jones

Since You Went Away (1944) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover Since You Went Away, John Cromwell’s 1944 wartime drama starring Claudette Colbert, Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, and Shirley Temple, now available as a professionally colorized version. Own this classic movie in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

Anne Hilton is a devoted, loving wife and mother struggling to hold her family together and maintain a brave face after her beloved husband Tim ships out to serve in the United States Army during World War II. Left alone in their comfortable suburban home with her two teenage daughters — the thoughtful, romantic elder Jane and the spirited, impulsive younger Brig — Anne faces the daily challenges that defined life on the American home front: strict rationing of food, gasoline, and household goods, the crushing loneliness of empty evenings without her husband, the constant low-grade anxiety of waiting for news from the front, and the exhausting emotional labor of keeping up morale for her daughters and her community.

To help with mounting expenses on a single income, the family reluctantly takes in a boarder, the crusty, cantankerous, but secretly kindhearted retired Colonel Smollett, whose gruff exterior conceals a deep well of patriotism and compassion. When Tim’s charming, witty old friend Lieutenant Tony Willett arrives on leave and begins spending time with the Hilton family, his warmth, humor, and effortless charm bring both genuine comfort and dangerously complicated emotional feelings into the household. Anne finds herself drawn to Tony’s vitality and presence while fiercely guarding her loyalty to her absent husband.

Meanwhile, Jane falls deeply and tenderly in love with Corporal Bill Smollett, the Colonel’s earnest, idealistic young grandson, in a sweet wartime romance that blossoms during stolen moments of walks, dances, and heartfelt conversations — all overshadowed by the terrible knowledge that Bill will soon ship out to the combat zone. As the war grinds on month after month, gold star flags begin appearing in neighbors’ windows — each one marking a son or husband killed in action — and the specter of irreversible loss hangs over every household on the street. The family experiences the full spectrum of wartime emotion: pride, fear, sacrifice, grief, and unwavering hope. When devastating, heart-stopping news finally arrives about Tim, Anne must summon every ounce of strength and courage she possesses to carry on for her daughters and for the country she believes in.

Cast & Crew

Director: John Cromwell

Stars: Claudette Colbert, Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, Shirley Temple, Monty Woolley, Robert Walker, Lionel Barrymore, Agnes Moorehead, Hattie McDaniel

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

Since You Went Away was originally filmed in black and white, its warm domestic settings representing the heart of the American home front during the most critical years of World War II. This professionally colorized restoration brings frame-by-frame precision to the cozy, well-loved interiors of the Hilton family home, the patriotic red-white-and-blue community gatherings and war bond drives, and the emotionally devastating farewell scenes at crowded train stations where families say goodbye not knowing if they will ever see each other again. The colorized version adds deeply poignant visual warmth to this restored classic film. Now also available in colour.

Buy Since You Went Away in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Since You Went Away was produced by David O. Selznick as his ambitious, deeply personal follow-up to Gone with the Wind, and he invested the same epic vision and meticulous attention to detail in this intimate home-front story. The film was nominated for nine Academy Awards, winning Best Score by Max Steiner. The extraordinary ensemble cast assembled by Selznick includes Claudette Colbert in one of her finest performances, a luminous Jennifer Jones fresh from her Oscar win, Shirley Temple in her first serious grown-up role, Joseph Cotten at his most charming, and scene-stealing turns by Monty Woolley, Lionel Barrymore, and Agnes Moorehead. Jennifer Jones and Robert Walker, who were married to each other in real life but separating during filming, play lovers in the film, lending their scenes together a bittersweet poignancy that transcends mere acting. Through professional colorization, this definitive American home-front drama reaches new audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD restored
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: Original mono restored
• Runtime: Approximately 172 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Was this produced by David O. Selznick?
A: Yes, Selznick produced Since You Went Away as his grand, epic statement about the American home front during wartime, investing the same ambitious vision and meticulous craft he brought to Gone with the Wind.

Q: How many Academy Award nominations did it receive?
A: The film received nine Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won for Best Score by Max Steiner. It was one of the most acclaimed and commercially successful films of 1944.

Q: Is Shirley Temple in this film?
A: Yes, Shirley Temple plays the younger daughter Brig in one of her first significant adult roles, transitioning from her legendary child-star career into more mature, dramatic work with considerable skill and natural charm.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as an MP4 file compatible with virtually any device or media player.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Long Voyage Home (1940)
• General Della Rovere (1959)
• The Valley of Decision (1945)
• The Champ (1931)
• City for Conquest (1940)