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Until They Sail

Play trailer Poster for Until They Sail 1957 1h 35m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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57% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
In 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the New Zealand city of Christchurch is visited by hundreds of U.S. Marines -- a welcome sight for the lonely women there. The four Leslie sisters (Jean Simmons, Joan Fontaine, Piper Laurie, Sandra Dee) each become involved with the soldiers, with varying shades of happiness or tragedy resulting. Despite being married, Barbara finds herself drawn to the strapping Jack Harding (Paul Newman), while the spirited Anne falls for a captain (Charles Drake).
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Until They Sail

Critics Reviews

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Philip Oakes London Evening Standard Jun 16, 2026
An irrelevant aside on war-time morals. Go to Full Review Bosley Crowther New York Times Jun 17, 2008
2/5
Unfortunately there is a good deal of introspective soul-searching before this narrative arrives at its sad and happy endings. Go to Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Jan 8, 2020
Better than most of the soap operas it resembles, this tells of the wartime romances and heartaches of four New Zealand sisters and says one or two uncommonly blunt things... Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jul 29, 2009
C+
Robert Wise directs Paul Newman for the second time (after Somebody Up There Like Me) in this New Zealand-set WWII sentimental melodrama, which is worth seeing for the acting of Newman and Jean Simmons as his love interest. Go to Full Review Film4 Staff Film4 Jun 17, 2008
The film explores the themes of relationships and sexual morality in the time of war and is based on the novel by James A Michener. Go to Full Review TV Guide Jun 17, 2008
2.5/4
Good love scenes between Newman and Simmons contributed strongly to his becoming a matinee idol when this picture was released. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve D @RT35616104 Jul 9, 2023 The fantastic cast keeps it afloat. See more ashley h @ashleyhobgood87 Mar 11, 2016 Until They Sail is a decent film. It is about husband-less New Zealand women meet and marry American soldiers during World War II. Jean Simmons and Paul Newman give good performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. Robert Wise did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the drama and romance. See more s r @ScottR Aug 6, 2013 Showing the ironies of war and how home soldiers are sent elsewhere only to have other soldiers come to take their place. It then goes through the tragedies of foreign relationships and how they have the potential to divide families. Not very inspirational, but interesting to see a rare story told in wartime New Zealand. See more Apr 1, 2013 Good cast is given lackluster material. Look for a young Dean Jones as a Marine. See more Oct 21, 2012 good soaper i liked this See more Apr 20, 2012 Gerard Blain is excellent as the younger man Germaine Kerjean is razorsharp Classic See more Read all reviews
Until They Sail

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Wise

Director

Jean Simmons

Barbara Leslie Forbes

Paul Newman

Capt. Jack Harding

Joan Fontaine

Anne Leslie

Piper Laurie

Delia Leslie Friskett

Charles Drake

Capt. Richard Bates

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Until They Sail

Until They Sail (1957) Until They Sail (1957) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the New Zealand city of Christchurch is visited by hundreds of U.S. Marines -- a welcome sight for the lonely women there. The four Leslie sisters (Jean Simmons, Joan Fontaine, Piper Laurie, Sandra Dee) each become involved with the soldiers, with varying shades of happiness or tragedy resulting. Despite being married, Barbara finds herself drawn to the strapping Jack Harding (Paul Newman), while the spirited Anne falls for a captain (Charles Drake).
Director
Robert Wise
Producer
Charles Schnee
Production Co
Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 26, 1957, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 20, 2016
Runtime
1h 35m
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