Journey for Margaret

1942
Approved
1h 21m

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

977

YOUR RATING

Robert Young, Laraine Day, and Margaret O'Brien in Journey for Margaret (1942)

An American newspaperman and his wife, caught in the London blitz, lose their unborn child in an air raid. Outraged, they visit a shelter for homeless children where they fall in love with orphans Margaret and her brother Peter. They eventaully adopt the children and bring them to America.

Play trailer1:41

1 Video

9 Photos

Drama Romance War

John Davis, a married American newspaper reporter in London, covers the story of a home for children displaced by the war and meets two kids who grow attached to him.John Davis, a married American newspaper reporter in London, covers the story of a home for children displaced by the war and meets two kids who grow attached to him.John Davis, a married American newspaper reporter in London, covers the story of a home for children displaced by the war and meets two kids who grow attached to him.

Directors
- W.S. Van Dyke
- Herbert Kline
Writers
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

977

YOUR RATING

Directors
- W.S. Van Dyke
- Herbert Kline
Writers
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 4 wins

'Rugged'
(as G.P. Huntley Jr.)

Lisa Golm

Frau Weber

Norman Ainsley

Porter
(uncredited)

George Aldwin

Little Boy
(uncredited)

Jimmy Aubrey

Hotel Porter
(uncredited)

Sybil Bacon

Woman in Subway
(uncredited)

Frank Baker

Fireman
(uncredited)

Directors
- W.S. Van Dyke
- Herbert Kline
Writers
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
This is the film from which Margaret O'Brien took her name. She was born Angela O'Brien, but she so identified with the character she played in this film that she decided to change her name to Margaret.

Goofs
When John Davis is escorting Margaret and Peter to potential foster parents in London, they look at blitz damage out the taxi's window. In the last view of the damage, one shop front has all its signs with reverse lettering, revealing that really they are watching a film that is projected incorrectly.

Quotes
[the censor cuts out most of Davis' writing about his experiences during the blitz]
John Davis: All I have to show for my month in England is a few brilliant paragraphs ending with three sentences deleted here.
The Censor: You'll find we're perfectly willing to sacrifice your chance to win a Pulitzer Prize for our chance to win the war.

Connections
Featured in MGM: When the Lion Roars: The Lion Reigns Supreme (1992)

Soundtracks
Loch Lomond
(pub. 1841) (uncredited)
Traditional Scottish folk song
Lyrics by Andrew Lang (1876)
Sung a cappella by Robert Young and G.P. Huntley

User reviews28

Review

Featured review

Exquisite Film

"Journey for Margaret" is a beautiful film about the stress of World War II. John Davis (Robert Young) is an out-of-place guy who adopts two children, Margaret (Margaret O' Brien) and Peter (William Severn). While these children are sometimes hard to take care of, well, because of their fear of war. And that's what makes the movie so great.

Robert Young as the film's main protagonist gives out an eye-catching and astonishing performance as the children, especially Margaret, are set to make your eyes well up; with their unforgettable performance and gorgeous talent. While Margaret was only like 4 at the time, she still did well acting in "Journey for Margaret" and almost immediately caught the audience's attention despite her unique crying in "Meet me in St. Louis", her funny attitude in "Thousands Cheer" and tempting brattiness in "The Secret Garden." Robert Young was also a great actor too. Though, I remember him being in another Margaret O'Brien movie a couple years after this one where they were trying to help a cowardly ghost or something like that.

The concept of this movie being based on a true story is what makes it such a fantastic film. Kids probably wouldn't get it, but adults will find it truly amazing

10 out of 10