This Above All (1942) in Color — Starring Tyrone Power & Joan Fontaine

This Above All (1942) – Buy This Wartime Romance in Color

Experience the passionate intensity of This Above All (1942) in vivid colorized HD. Directed by Anatole Litvak, this powerful wartime romance stars Tyrone Power and Joan Fontaine in a deeply moving story of love, duty, and moral courage during the darkest days of the London Blitz. When a privileged young Englishwoman falls for a disillusioned soldier who has abandoned his post, their love forces both of them to confront fundamental questions about class, patriotism, and personal honour. Now available as a premium digital download for just €15.00 — DRM-free and yours to keep forever.

Plot Summary

Prudence Doyle-Hardwicke Cathaway (Joan Fontaine) is a young woman of wealth and privilege who has defied her upper-class family’s expectations by enlisting in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) to do her part in Britain’s war effort. Her decision reflects a genuine desire to serve rather than merely observe the struggle from the comfort of her family’s country estate. While stationed at her post, Prudence meets Clive Briggs (Tyrone Power), a brooding and passionate working-class man whose intense personal magnetism both attracts and disturbs her.

As their passionate romance develops amid the constant threat of German bombing raids, Prudence gradually discovers Clive’s devastating secret: he is a decorated war hero who has gone absent without leave, unable to reconcile his personal courage with his bitter conviction that the class system he is being asked to defend has never offered anything to men of his background. Clive has seen working-class men sacrifice their lives to preserve a social order that keeps them in poverty and servitude, and he can no longer justify fighting for a system that he believes exploits the very people who defend it.

Prudence is torn between her love for Clive and her own deep sense of duty and patriotism. She understands the injustice of his grievance — she has seen how the class system operates from its privileged side — but she believes that the Nazi threat transcends class divisions and that Britain must be defended regardless of its imperfections. Their arguments about duty, class, and love become increasingly passionate as the war closes in around them, with German bombs falling nightly on London and the threat of invasion hanging over everything.

The crisis comes when Clive’s desertion is discovered and he faces arrest and disgrace. A devastating German bombing raid forces Clive to act on instinct rather than ideology, and his heroic response to the carnage around him reveals that his courage and sense of duty are deeper than his intellectual disillusionment. The film’s resolution affirms that love and personal honour can bridge the divisions of class and that fighting for one’s country is ultimately fighting for the people one loves, not the system that governs them.

Cast & Crew

Director: Anatole Litvak
Stars: Tyrone Power, Joan Fontaine, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Stephenson, Nigel Bruce, Gladys Cooper, Philip Merivale

Tyrone Power delivers one of his most complex and emotionally demanding performances as the conflicted deserter torn between principle and duty. Joan Fontaine, fresh from her Oscar-winning triumph in Suspicion, brings intelligence and passionate conviction to the role of Prudence. Thomas Mitchell provides excellent dramatic support as a sympathetic padre who understands both sides of Clive’s moral dilemma.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The atmospheric London Blitz sequences, the beautiful English countryside, the intimate romantic scenes, and the dramatic bombing raids are all magnificently enhanced through expert colorization. The contrast between the green tranquillity of rural England and the fiery devastation of the Blitz creates powerful visual drama in colour. Now also available in colour. Own this passionate wartime romance for €15.00 — a moving addition to your classic film collection.

Historical Significance

This Above All was adapted from Eric Knight’s controversial bestselling novel and represents one of Hollywood’s most serious wartime attempts to grapple with the class tensions that existed within British society even as the nation fought for its survival. The film’s willingness to give voice to working-class resentment against the class system was daring for a wartime production, even though it ultimately affirms the necessity of national unity. Tyrone Power’s performance as a man of courage paralysed by moral conflict remains one of his finest achievements. Through colorization, this emotionally and intellectually ambitious wartime drama has been preserved for modern audiences who appreciate films that combine romance with genuine social commentary.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes – professionally colorized from the original black-and-white
• Audio: Original mono soundtrack
• Runtime: Approximately 118 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes – no restrictions on playback
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Is the film primarily a romance or a war drama?
A: It is genuinely both. The romance between Power and Fontaine drives the emotional narrative, while the wartime setting and the moral questions about class and duty provide intellectual depth. The two elements are inseparable and strengthen each other throughout the film.

Q: How does the film handle the class conflict theme?
A: With surprising honesty for a wartime production. Clive’s grievances against the British class system are presented sympathetically and never dismissed, even as the film ultimately argues that national survival must take precedence over social reform. The film does not pretend the class system is fair; it argues that defeating fascism is a necessary prerequisite for any future reforms.

Q: How effective is the Blitz atmosphere?
A: Extremely effective. The bombing sequences are visceral and frightening, creating a genuine sense of the terror that ordinary Londoners endured nightly. The contrast between moments of romantic intimacy and sudden explosive violence gives the film remarkable dramatic power.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file in 720p HD resolution, compatible with all major devices and media players.

Q: Is there DRM on this download?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free, meaning you can watch it on any device without restrictions or expiration dates.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchasing?
A: Your download link is available immediately after payment. You can start watching within minutes of completing your purchase.

Related Colorized Classics

• Mrs. Miniver (1942)
• Waterloo Bridge (1940)
• Random Harvest (1942)
• The White Cliffs of Dover (1944)
• A Farewell to Arms (1932)