The Enchanted Cottage (1945)

Some reviewers are appalled by the fact that the characters are judged on their appearances but that is reality. It's something that occurs even in modern times. The person who feels they will never find love because they are too fat, too thin, not perfect in the eyes of society. That is what Laura is feeling.. This makes her quite shy and homely. Then there is Oliver the once popular socialite who in the outside world would have never even given Laura the time of day. The cottage brings them together and they share this mutual feeling of being lonely due to their appearance. I don't see this as something unrealistic or even disgusting as one reviewer stated. It's the way society is and it was worse in the older days. The division of classes and the fact that love is simply based on a physical attraction is shattered in this movie. The characters see beyond that once they fall in love. That is the key... They had already fallen in love before the change occurred in their eyes only. The cinematography is so well done as is the direction. My favorite character is Mrs. Minnett who gives the tear jerker explanation that brings the story together. This film for me expands on love.. I can see this also as the love a mother has for a child... Even when a child is grossly disfigured the Mother sees beyond that.. That see the child for who they are inside and the love of wanting to care for them forever. That's true love. Loving the person so much that their exterior always looks beautiful because their beautiful inside.

I am 74 and I have seen this movie at least 50 times. This is one of the very best feelgood movies there is, it is full of empathy, love, hurt and yet leaves you with a dream come true. My dream like Laura came true. I was a very large women and late in life met my Marine and married and we had our. Outage, you will love this movie I am sure,

For most of THE ENCHANTED COTTAGE, it seems as if being beautiful is the main theme-- that it's the most meaningful thing in the world. Then we realize the theme is actually about how it exists in the eye of the beholder and is very real for the beholder.When we get to the end of the film and understand the real message, we are in a state of shock. We suddenly realize we have been manipulated and have been betrayed by vanity.I like this movie, because I think it achieves what so many other trite productions fail to do. It gives us a true sense of magic-- the masks come off and it's very enchanting in a strange sort of way. Film is a visual medium, and this production effectively exploits the images of "beauty" on screen.

So this is a movie about a woman so hideous that she's ostracized and shunned, and a man so disabled that his family plans to hire a live-in nurse and force him to live at home. Only instead of being ugly, the woman doesn't wear makeup, and instead of being crippled, the man has some kind of vague paralysis in one arm and a scar.There's this amazing scene where the guy's saying how this woman can't possibly understand what it's like to be so disfigured, but before he can finish he just looks at her shuts up, because of course she knows what it's like to be disabled! I mean, she's not wearing lipstick!This movie tries so hard to hammer in the idea that ugly (or disabled) people can only love other ugly (or disabled) people, and that attractive people will flee in terror from mild scars or uncombed hair. The movie teaches us that it's okay to love someone even if their hair isn't fashionable, but don't worry because the power of love will transform them into a supermodel (or in the case of this movie, someone who looks exactly the same but with thinner eyebrows). And if you have the misfortune to fall in love with someone who isn't 100% able-bodied, good news! Your imagination will magically heal their disability, allowing them to talk to others without shame! There's also a guy whose blindness has made him a saint, because if you're disabled you're only allowed to be bitter or a source of inspiration for the able-bodied.The direction and cinematography are both outstanding, I liked the score, the acting wasn't bad. But I can't remember the last time I watched something so totally disgusting, and I watch Troma movies.