Beloved Enemy (1936)

Brilliant and touching

Best movie ever!

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

What happens when the leader of the Irish rebellion meets the daughter of an English nobleman? Well, when it's the passionate Merle Oberon and the ridiculously handsome Brian Aherne, they fall in love. In Beloved Enemy, you'll find a forbidden romance among the turmoil of war, similar to Romeo and Juliet. Just as in all classic romances, you can probably guess what will happen, but if you choose to watch this one, you won't be watching it for the plot twists. You'll be watching it for the eye candy, ladies, or because your girlfriend is forcing you to, gents. It is very fun, though, for voluntary watchers, because it has all the elements of a doomed, classic romance. As you might suspect, since this is a movie about Irish people, Donald Crisp is one of the supporting characters, adding responsibility and gravity to the Irish cause. A young Jerome Cowan shines as one of the Irish rebels, and David Niven is the "designated friend" of Merle. I'd recommend this one, although it doesn't reach the heights of Duel in the Sun, because sometimes, us ladies just can't get enough dramatic love. And when you get to watch Brian's gorgeous face for ninety minutes, you're in for a great time!

I haven't seen this film myself but I've just come across a comment on it by my father, after seeing it in 1938: I did not enjoy it as much as I might have had I not been studying the actual facts and happenings of that particular year (1921). After what I had read and pondered so much to retain in my memory I could hardly even endure to look at the picture at all, it was so different from what was in my mind. The human touch in it was the only thing that appealed to me, otherwise the picture was empty. Probably I would have thought it a great picture had I not read so much about that particular period, recently.

Don't expect the true story of what was going on in Dublin and most of Ireland during the early 1920's; That has been sanitized out as to not "offend" the movie viewers over there. What is present is an acceptable love story with some of the political intrigue intact, but it is basic background to the typical romantic struggles of total opposites whose love affair seems to be doomed from the start.Brian Donlevy plays a fictional character, possibly a composite of various Irish rebels who eluded the police and military and stirred up enough trouble to keep this rebellion going on for decades. When Merle Oberon arrives with her British ambassador father (Henry Stephenson) in Dublin, she accidentally encounters Donlevy and after some initial unpleasantness from him because of her station in life, they can't help but admit that they are attracted to each other. She is trapped inside his hide-out during a raid and after being taken back to London, convinces her father to set up a meeting with the leaders of the rebellion. Members of Donlevy's team (particularly Donald Crisp and Jerome Cowan) are against a "treaty", and this leads to Donlevy accused of being a traitor.While female roles in movies like this are usually meant to be merely "window dressing", Oberon adds some spark into her character which makes her much more interesting. She tosses out enough of her own ideals about the rebellion, and this makes her more compelling as a part of a serious plot. This is where the film succeeds as its structure isn't about the actual rebellion or the reasons behind it, but cause and effect and looming tragedy when one member of a rebel team seems to be drifting away from his priorities. Solid acting, outstanding production design and sparking direction by H.C. Potter makes up for the lack of fact that was already covered in plays and films like "Juno and the Paycock" and "The Informer".In order to enjoy this film it helps to know a little something about this period of history, something which has recurred between Ireland and "the mother country" a lot over the future decades. On the level of a doomed love story, it works best, with Oberon and Aherne a gorgeous pair whom you root for up to the moving finale.

I admit it. I gave this film a 10 for purely subjective reasons. I love the sound, the look and the emotional content of the two stars. Brian Aherne was so very beautiful that he is quite literally stunning. Merle Oberon was never lovelier. The sound, the dialog, the vocabulary. Wow. They had faces and voices then and they had grace. If one compares the sheer heart of these performances, these scripts with the current crop, one could weep. A profound thank you for this film, even with the fictionalized ending. Lovely. Truly memorable in every meaning of that word even if the 10 is a bit of an exaggeration, it is only a very slight one. Lovely.