Links and resources for the 7 movies in the Tear Jerkers series I gave at DEAR on Tuesdays at noon, starting on January 13, 2026, and then continuing on selected Tuesdays through April 14.

Random Harvest (1942)

• Retrospective Review – From British journalist Meg Walters, this 2022 “Defense of a Forgotten Classic” from the Literary Hub website is a thoughtful and insightful reconsideration of the film from a current perspective. It has spoilers, so wait until you see the film first.
• Discovering Miss Susan – Library of Congress blog post on Susan Peters’s remarkable 1951 daytime TV series, Miss Susan, where she starred as a wheelchair-bound attorney. Following the 1945 hunting accident that left Peters paralyzed from the waist down, she portrayed a disabled woman as a strong, independent, competent professional. Very much ahead of its time.

Now, Voyager (1942)

• Blog Post – From The Blonde at the Film website, which is maintained by Cameron. From 2014, it’s a lengthy but well researched discussion that provides a thoughtful feminist perspective.

Brief Encounter (1945)

• Guardian Retrospective – From 2025, includes great pictures and story of the production.

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

• Diary of a Sergeant (1945) – Documentary short film from the Army Pictorial Services focusing on Harold Russell’s rehabilitation after losing his hands. William Wyler cast Russell as Homer after viewing this film.
• Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress (1943) – William Wyler’s extraordinary documentary of the 25th and final mission of this famous B-17.

Portrait of Jennie (1948)

• NYC in Film page – Amazing page devoted to finding the New York City locations of 30+ shots from the film and showing them with then-and-now animated gifs that cycle from the movie shot to a current photo. See video below.
• 7-Minute Video – Stitches together fades between brief video shots from the movie and current photos of the same location. Masterfully done!

Umberto D. (1952)

• Sight & Sound review – From 1953, provides a valuable summary of Vittorio de Sica’s career up to that time, especially in the context of Italian neorealism.
• Maria Pia Casilio interview – From 2003, she describes how she got the part of the maid and what it was like to work with Vittorio de Sica on her first film.

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