Review of This Happy Breed (1944) by Daniel K — 05 Jun 2011

Lean certainly anticipates Hitchcock's Psycho in his opening. It is truly masterful considering the time and technology available to him. Even at this early of a stage in his career Lean had an amazing sense of both the grand and the intimate.

The gradual "zoom" into the Gibbons home reinforces that even though this particular picture is told on a small scale, it is relevant to the country as a whole. It's a wonderful portrayal of one families journey.

I couldn't help but think of all the lead fumes the children were breathing when they chased after the car on its way to the wedding though. This is a slightly simpler world. The film focuses both on the importance of the home and the huge effect the world around one has.

The family is at the whim of history between the wars. Even the King's death has an effect, even if it is rather minor and they carry on as always afterward. The actual physical brick and mortar home is an interesting focal point here as well.

Good performances all around. The mirror of the opening shot at the end of the film is the perfect finish. Excellent picture.