This was Miss Barrymore's last motion picture appearance, and she's grand in it. She is taking on a role that was previously played by Mabel Paige in the original version that was produced by Republic Pictures in 1943. That earlier version, called SOMEONE TO REMEMBER (a much better title), featured young Peter Lawford as one of the boys that adopts an elderly woman who lives as a "house mother," more like a den mother, in the building that his college fraternity uses for lodging.
Some of the set-up is a bit unbelievable but it works, because at its heart, the story is about a generation gap and people coming together in uncertain times. The old gal is joined by a faithful manservant, played by Cecil Kellaway. Film buffs will know that Barrymore and Kellaway previously costarred in PORTRAIT OF JENNIE (1948).
Since this rendering of the story takes place in the mid-to-late 50s, there is no mention of the second world war, just the Korean war. Primarily, the focus seems to be on what's important to this younger generation of men that are attending college. And what is important to them is not really their studies, it is predictably, girls.
Stuart Whitman plays the main guy in this fun-loving fraternity and he's in a relationship with sexy Carolyn Jones. Part of the plot has her find out she's pregnant, and what they are going to do about it.
The main storyline, however, concerns Barrymore who never got over losing her college-aged son 27 years ago. Whitman's character shares the same name as her missing son, and she starts to think he may be her grandson, having been named after her own boy. Is it really true, or is it all just a coincidence?
I do like how the mystery about Whitman's identity propels the story forward. We do want him to be her grandson, and when his father visits campus, for her to be reunited with her errant son. But it turns out to be that this is mostly just her imagination, and when she dies, we have a rather bittersweet ending.
Some of the set-up is a bit unbelievable but it works, because at its heart, the story is about a generation gap and people coming together in uncertain times. The old gal is joined by a faithful manservant, played by Cecil Kellaway. Film buffs will know that Barrymore and Kellaway previously costarred in PORTRAIT OF JENNIE (1948).
Since this rendering of the story takes place in the mid-to-late 50s, there is no mention of the second world war, just the Korean war. Primarily, the focus seems to be on what's important to this younger generation of men that are attending college. And what is important to them is not really their studies, it is predictably, girls.
Stuart Whitman plays the main guy in this fun-loving fraternity and he's in a relationship with sexy Carolyn Jones. Part of the plot has her find out she's pregnant, and what they are going to do about it.
The main storyline, however, concerns Barrymore who never got over losing her college-aged son 27 years ago. Whitman's character shares the same name as her missing son, and she starts to think he may be her grandson, having been named after her own boy. Is it really true, or is it all just a coincidence?
I do like how the mystery about Whitman's identity propels the story forward. We do want him to be her grandson, and when his father visits campus, for her to be reunited with her errant son. But it turns out to be that this is mostly just her imagination, and when she dies, we have a rather bittersweet ending.