Random Harvest (film)

Random Harvest
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMervyn LeRoy
Screenplay byArthur Wimperis
George Froeschel
Claudine West
Based onRandom Harvest
1941 novel
by James Hilton
Produced bySidney Franklin
StarringRonald Colman
Greer Garson
Philip Dorn
Susan Peters
CinematographyJoseph Ruttenberg
Edited byHarold F. Kress
Music byHerbert Stothart
Production
company
Distributed byLoew's Inc.
Release date
  • December 17, 1942 (1942-12-17)
Running time
125 minutes
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,210,000[1]
Box office$8,147,000[1]

Random Harvest is a 1942 American romantic drama film based on the 1941 James Hilton novel of the same title, directed by Mervyn LeRoy. Claudine West, George Froeschel, and Arthur Wimperis adapted the novel for the screen, and received an Academy Award nomination. The novel keeps the true identity of Paula/Margaret a secret until the very end, something that would have been impossible in a film, where characters’ faces must be seen. This meant that the movie had to take a very different approach to the story. The film stars Ronald Colman as a shellshocked, amnesiac World War I veteran, and Greer Garson as his love interest.

The film was an instant commercial success and was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Colman, Best Supporting Actress for Susan Peters, Best Director for Mervyn LeRoy and Best Picture. Garson, whose performance was well-received, was nominated for and won the Academy Award for Best Actress that year for her role in Mrs. Miniver.

  1. ^ a b The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.