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Until They Sail

Play trailer Poster for Until They Sail 1957 1h 35m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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67% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 67% 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

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Bosley Crowther New York Times 06/17/2008
2/5
Unfortunately there is a good deal of introspective soul-searching before this narrative arrives at its sad and happy endings. Go to Full Review
Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine 01/08/2020
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... Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 07/29/2009
C+
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. Go to Full Review
Film4 Staff Film4 06/17/2008
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. Go to Full Review
TV Guide 06/17/2008
2.5/4
Good love scenes between Newman and Simmons contributed strongly to his becoming a matinee idol when this picture was released. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 09/10/2007
C+
It's a soap opera love story that delves into questions about morality during wartime. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Joanie C 09/27/2024 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. See more Steve D 07/09/2023 The fantastic cast keeps it afloat. See more ashley h @ashleyhobgood87 03/11/2016 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. See more s r @ScottR 08/06/2013 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. See more 04/01/2013 Good cast is given lackluster material. Look for a young Dean Jones as a Marine. See more 10/21/2012 good soaper i liked this See more Read all reviews
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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