I’LL NEVER FORGET YOU (1951—aka THE HOUSE ON THE SQUARE)

Peter Standish (Tyrone Power) is an American scientist working in a British atomic research laboratory. A bit intense, he has to at times be reined in by his bosses, and his friend Roger (Michael Rennie) suggests he take some time off and stay at the Pettigrew mansion, an old house that Peter has inherited. Peter tells Roger that the house was once owned by his ancestor, also named Peter, in the 1700s, and that he was an American who came to England to marry his cousin Kate Pettigrew. He shows Roger a painting of the first Peter, then announces his intention to travel back in time to 1784 to meet Kate. After the skeptical Roger leaves, a lightning bolt hits Peter and when he comes to, he is indeed in 1784 (with the black & white film now in color) in Georgian clothes, as the first Peter Standish, just off the boat from America. Peter has done some research on his ancestors and manages to pass himself off as genuine, at least for a while until he starts slipping up by mentioning technology that doesn't exist yet; he sets up a secret lab to work on such inventions. Meanwhile, he finds himself falling in love with Kate's sister Helen (Ann Blyth). Because of more slip-ups as it becomes clear that he knows what lies in the future, people become afraid of him. Peter tells Helen the truth and when she looks into his eyes, she can see the future. Soon his behavior is so bizarre that he is committed to an asylum, but lightning strikes again and Peter wakes up in the present day and discovers that his ancestor had, in fact, been transported to the 1950s and is now presumably back in 1784. How will Peter's romantic entanglements work out? This is based on a popular play called Berkeley Square which was made into a movie with Leslie Howard. I'm not really a Tyrone Power fan and I found him inferior to Howard, coming off as a bit wooden. Ann Blyth is quite good as Helen. As in the earlier film, no explanation is given for the time travel event; as happens in the later Somewhere in Time, it seems to have been desperately willed into happening, and the possibility that the whole thing was a dream is dispensed with by the apparent travel through time of an ankh that Helen gives him (also as in the original movie). Directed by Roy Ward Baker who made a mark in the 70s as a horror director.  Interesting as a little-seen fantasy novelty but not required viewing. The earlier film is the preferred choice for viewing. Pictured are Power and Blyth. [DVD]