The Years Between (film)

Diana Wentworth is told her husband Michael, a British MI6 officer who had been working with the French Resistance, is dead, killed by the Nazis in France during the Second World War. She struggles to accept this but is helped by the family nanny (Flora Robson). The nanny encourages her to stand for parliament in her late husband's seat and is supported by Sir Ernest Foster.

She lives in rural middle England on a large country estate, where her husband had supported local interests. She decides she can fill several of his roles. Not everyone supports a female in this capacity. She is pursued by a neighbouring landowner, Richard Llewelyn, who, during a V-1 attack, kisses her and proposes.

At the end of the war, as PoW camps are liberated, Michael Wentworth is rediscovered. Sir Ernest phones Diana to inform her and she has to shelve her plans with Richard.

She is about to marry again, and has become an MP, and all must now readjust to the new situation.^[2][3]

Back home, Michael is somewhat estranged from his son Rodney ("Robin"). He finds his wardrobe empty: passed to charity. Diana has to explain to Richard that she loves him but must stay with Michael. Michael is particularly shocked to find she is an MP and is effectively doing his job. He asks her to stop and let him have his role back. He wants to turn back time. He eventually finds out about Richard but is less concerned about this than gaining his seat back in the House of Commons. They decide to split and Nanny tries to arbitrate.

Ultimately she returns to Michael in both heart and mind. The film ends with them both in the House of Commons.

• Michael Redgrave as Col. Michael Wentworth
• Valerie Hobson as Diana Wentworth
• Flora Robson as Nanny
• James McKechnie as Richard Llewellyn
• Felix Aylmer as Sir Ernest Foster
• Dulcie Gray as Judy
• John Gilpin as Robin Wentworth
• Edward Rigby as Postman
• Esma Cannon as Effie
• Lyn Evans as Ames
• Wylie Watson as Venning
• Yvonne Owen as Alice
• Muriel Aked as Mrs. May
• Joss Ambler as Atherton
• Ernest Butcher as Old Man
• Katie Johnson as Old Man's wife

According to trade papers, the film was a "notable box office attraction" at British cinemas.^[4]

The New York Times wrote, "an intimate and sometimes touching tale...Intelligently handled by Compton Bennett who directed the drama with an eye toward distilling character and perception from his cast...But it is rather unfortunate that the cast's intense and genuine portrayals are not matched by the over-all effect of this serious but heavy vehicle."^[5]

It was the 22nd most popular film at the British box office in 1946 after The Wicked Lady, The Bells of St. Mary's, Piccadilly Incident, The Captive Heart, Road to Utopia, Caravan, Anchors Aweigh, The Corn Is Green, Gilda, The House on 92nd Street, The Overlanders, Appointment with Crime, The Bandit of Sherwood Forest, Kitty, Spellbound, Scarlet Street, Men of Two Worlds, Courage of Lassie, Mildred Pierce, The Spiral Staircase and Brief Encounter.^[6]

• The Years Between at IMDb
• Review of film at Variety