Gander, Newfoundland, Gateway to the War! Apparently it was a stopping off point for those heading overseas during WW II. Terry is wide eyed, but too young to serve. And he is looking after his mother, who is quite ill. So he has visions of what it would be like to wait on everyone coming and going. Kind of a walter mitty deal, but here, he's just a waiter who interacts with the soldiers, girls, and stars that come through. Wikipedia dot com has a pretty detailed entry of the events taking place here during WW II. And extra credit for the "Shangri La" mention, where people never age. Which itself was the subject of Lost Horizon, made a couple years before. Lots of silent mystery and intrigue. Unexplained looks. It's a very slow simmer. Mom is slowly getting sicker, and now and then it knocks us out of Terry's fantasy-land. I guess this one is okay as background.. but not much going on. Written and directed by canadian Gordon Pinsent, who would have been fifteen during WW II.
Plot summary
During World War II, the usually sleepy town of Gander, Newfoundland is abuzz with activity as the stopover point for many flights between North America and the European Theater. Teenager Terry Fleming, who lives just outside of Gander, is feeling conflicted. He wants to work in Gander so that he can have access to the plethora of movie stars and GIs flying though the area. His neighbor, Laurie Dwyer, who works at the American base in Gander in the service sector, states she can get a job for Terry, perhaps as a waiter. Terry has a secret crush on Laurie. But Terry also wants to stay at home and take care of his ailing mother, Violet, who is eventually diagnosed with diphtheria. Terry and Violet have a special bond especially over their love of the popular entertainment of the day. Frank - Terry's father and Violet's husband - doesn't quite understand it but appreciates this bond between mother and son. Terry dreams that much of the activity at the Gander Airlines Hotel is fodder for stories to his mother, stories of glamorous movie stars involved with the USO, GI's having flings with local girls who are looking to escape Gander, and war espionage.
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