Lorrie Jamieson

There is a terrible poignancy about this movie that has not diminished a wit from when I first saw it 63 years ago. Everything about the story is tragic and beautiful, from the empty streets of San Francisco, save for a lone sailor fishing off a pier, to all the sad goodbyes, and a lonely Moira watching her lover steam off into the sunset. The edgy camera work, all in B&W, was organic and really right for the story, and the magnificent score by Ernest Gold has, for me, forever turned Waltzing Matilda from a lighthearted ditty into a heart-breaking soundtrack to the end of the world. The actors were all wonderful, even though there wasn't an Australian among them! Only Anthony Perkins made a stab at the accent, and wasn't bad, but the rest didn't even try which really was a blessing! The love story between Gregory and Ava was enchanting in that it was two grownups who had found each other in a miserable world. Every role was meaningful and true, with special props to Fred Astaire, acting as the Greek chorus to human folly.