I saw this on laserdisc ages ago, yet I still recall it fondly. It's successful mix of romantic cliches - the grating relationship between the naive 'country mouse' and the worldly 'city mouse'..... the inevitable unlikely bond... lots of standard romance parts. Still, set in the chosen timeframe - and over the chosen timespan - the story takes our protagonists on some journeys and trajectories that can really draw in the viewer. While the ending may be obvious before the opening credits roll, the journey there is what captivates the audience. A compelling story, well told, with superb performances from all involved.
If you haven't seen this yet, and you're in the mood for a feel-good romance that is definitely NOT treacly, add this to your queue. It's very much of its time (the time it was made AND the timespan it portrays) yet the human story is pretty timeless.