In January 2021, the World War II era is especially relatable: separations, shortages, fears of death, and threats to the American way of life are daily concerns, just as they were then. Thus, when the 1947 film “The Voice of the Turtle” begins with “It was December, 1944, in New York and it seemed as though the war and the winter were never going to end,” we understand. However, the leading characters, played by Ronald Reagan and Eleanor Parker, rather than wallowing in despair, display admirable qualities. Refreshing in these gender-confused times, they are the distinctly masculine and feminine, and Parker is an especially endearing example of the latter.
The movie focuses on Sally Middleton (Parker), a struggling young actress in New York City who has “only been in flops.” Her most recent flop was her romance with Broadway producer Kenneth Bartlett (Kent Smith), which ended after they realized that he was interested only in a casual courtship while she wanted a serious relationship, including marriage.
