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Until They Sail

Play trailer Poster for Until They Sail Released Sep 26, 1957 1h 35m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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67% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 63% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
In 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the New Zealand city of Christchurch is visited by hundreds of U.S. Marines -- a welcome sight for the lonely women there. The four Leslie sisters (Jean Simmons, Joan Fontaine, Piper Laurie, Sandra Dee) each become involved with the soldiers, with varying shades of happiness or tragedy resulting. Despite being married, Barbara finds herself drawn to the strapping Jack Harding (Paul Newman), while the spirited Anne falls for a captain (Charles Drake).

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Until They Sail

Critics Reviews

View All (6) Critics Reviews
Bosley Crowther New York Times Unfortunately there is a good deal of introspective soul-searching before this narrative arrives at its sad and happy endings. Rated: 2/5 Jun 17, 2008 Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Better than most of the soap operas it resembles, this tells of the wartime romances and heartaches of four New Zealand sisters and says one or two uncommonly blunt things... Jan 8, 2020 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Robert Wise directs Paul Newman for the second time (after Somebody Up There Like Me) in this New Zealand-set WWII sentimental melodrama, which is worth seeing for the acting of Newman and Jean Simmons as his love interest. Rated: C+ Jul 29, 2009 Full Review Film4 Staff Film4 The film explores the themes of relationships and sexual morality in the time of war and is based on the novel by James A Michener. Jun 17, 2008 Full Review TV Guide Good love scenes between Newman and Simmons contributed strongly to his becoming a matinee idol when this picture was released. Rated: 2.5/4 Jun 17, 2008 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews It's a soap opera love story that delves into questions about morality during wartime. Rated: C+ Sep 10, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (11) audience reviews
Joanie C I absolutely loved this movie! I never imagined what life would be like if all the men were gone. As the years go by, each sister copes with the loneliness and the pain of war in their own way. Moral decisions that were originally unthinkable become commonplace as everyone's morality changes in response to war. Each woman has to face the consequences of her decisions. Beautiful scenery and compelling characters. This is the war from a woman's point of view. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/27/24 Full Review Steve D The fantastic cast keeps it afloat. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/09/23 Full Review ashley h Until They Sail is a decent film. It is about husband-less New Zealand women meet and marry American soldiers during World War II. Jean Simmons and Paul Newman give good performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. Robert Wise did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the drama and romance. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review s r Showing the ironies of war and how home soldiers are sent elsewhere only to have other soldiers come to take their place. It then goes through the tragedies of foreign relationships and how they have the potential to divide families. Not very inspirational, but interesting to see a rare story told in wartime New Zealand. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Good cast is given lackluster material. Look for a young Dean Jones as a Marine. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member good soaper i liked this Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Until They Sail

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Wise

Director

Jean Simmons

Barbara Leslie Forbes

Paul Newman

Capt. Jack Harding

Joan Fontaine

Anne Leslie

Piper Laurie

Delia Leslie Friskett

Charles Drake

Capt. Richard Bates

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Until They Sail

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the New Zealand city of Christchurch is visited by hundreds of U.S. Marines -- a welcome sight for the lonely women there. The four Leslie sisters (Jean Simmons, Joan Fontaine, Piper Laurie, Sandra Dee) each become involved with the soldiers, with varying shades of happiness or tragedy resulting. Despite being married, Barbara finds herself drawn to the strapping Jack Harding (Paul Newman), while the spirited Anne falls for a captain (Charles Drake).
Director
Robert Wise
Producer
Charles Schnee
Production Co
Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 26, 1957, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 20, 2016
Runtime
1h 35m
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