User Reviews

This is a movie that can grab at your heart while it offers a glimpse at fifty years in the life of a small town barber. It's not a well known movie. I first saw it by accident on a local TV station, back when they showed older movies. It's never been released on video but it has been on cable sometimes and I managed to tape it once but hadn't watched it for awhile. Just finished and it has a strong emotional impact, as previous reviewers have also said. Maybe it's a little corny by "modern standards," and to people used to modern movies its pacing may feel a little slow. But it feels true to the time period it covers. The characters and their situations are believable. David Wayne, who usually seemed to play supporting parts, is terrific in the lead. Jean Peters, whom I don't remember seeing in other movies, is gorgeous. If you have a chance, watch this movie. It's really a wonderful film.

This is the story of a martyr barber starting in the 1890's in a small town and spaning forty years. He suffers one disaster after another - and if you pay attention it was his own fault, such as lying to his wife right at the start. Nonetheless, David Wayne, a major Bdwy star who lost role after role to the movie versions, does a nice job, and Jean Peters is pulchritudinous - and Howard Hughes wife. Never on video - too bad. I'd like to see it again after twenty years or so when it appeared on late-night/early morning TV.

It will be fifty years ago this summer (1952) that I first saw this film. I was eight years old at the time and have never forgotten it. The bittersweet tale of one man's life told through the history of a small town in mid-west America at the turn of the 20th century. Both David Wayne and Jean Peters handled their roles with conviction avoiding any sticky sweet sentimentality. All to soon we lose Miss Peters and Wayne carries the film to a somewhat happy ending. I would love to see this superb film once again.

I saw this movie when it first was released, and have never been able to forget it (I was only 12 or 13 at the time). I remember very well the story line and the actors. It made such an impression on me and I have looked for it often in the TV schedules, but have never seen it. Correction; I did see it again on TV in the 60s, but not since then. I wish sincerely that this would be made available on video. I would jump at the chance to buy it. A GREAT MOVIE.

I came to this film via Karina Longworth's excellent podcast series "You Must Remember This" which I recommend to one and all. She did a mini-series on the women in the life of Howard Hughes and where this movie figures on this is because of course, main female lead Jean Peters was for many years Mrs Howard Hughes. Although not betrothed to the billionaire at the time of the film's release, she was already in the background as one of his pet starlet-girlfriends. Other than that however, Hughes had nothing to do with this particular movie but egged on by Ms Longworth's warning of a major plot twist halfway through the film, I duly tracked it down.

Taking its title from a popular song from the late 19th Century, which you hear frequently during its running time, the film certainly isn't the light-hearted, frothy musical you might have expected, although it starts a bit like that as we meet young David Wayne's Ben Halper character, a gentleman's barber to trade and his pretty young wife, Nellie, played by Peters. Newly-wed, she thinks he's taking them to an exciting new life in bustling Chicago, but no, the more practical and parochial Wayne has decided to set up both his business and family home in the small town of Sevillinois.

This doesn't go well with the ambitious Nellie even as she assures Wayne of her love and duly bears him a son and daughter, so that it's not long before she's attracting the attention of flash-harry married man-about-town Ed Jordan. Meanwhile, hubby further entrenches himself in the community by joining both the local band and when the First World War comes around, the town's army battalion. Then, while he's away from home, Nellie and Jordan decide to take a fateful train journey together to the big smoke of Chicago, where they both feel they belong.

What happens next is that unexpected plot shift which I can say no more about without getting into spoiler territory, but what I will say is that the film ends up as an up-and-down fifty-year biography of a little man who pays the price for not considering the dreams and ambitions of those he loves but still comes across as an agreeable and believable human being, just an ordinary average, play-safe kind of guy.

Unusually for a B-movie, with cast to match, it's shot in a very dark-hued technicolour rather than cheaper black and white and is directed by the worthy Henry King. Wayne does a good job carrying the narrative on his shoulders from start to finish, ageing considerably as he goes and Peters makes a big impression too as his starry-eyed wife. Clearly Wayne hasn't heard the old phrase, "Happy wife, happy life" and pays the price for his own selfishness. He's not a bad man, he just thinks he's always right and is obviously a slow learner from his experiences as we later see in his testy relationship with his grown-up son.

Director King keeps the story moving from one major event to the next in Wayne's long life, taking in drama and tragedy by turn, even culminating in a good old fashioned Chicago gangster shoot-out, which reminded me of the old Tyrone Power-starring feature "In Old Chicago" which King helmed several years before.

It's always good to find a watchable old movie you've never heard of before and so it was here. This isn't the first vintage movie I've viewed on Ms Longworth's recommendation and on the evidence here, it won't be the last.

This will touch nerves among those of us who ponder what-might-have-been. The title sounds like it's one of those ha-ha overbright 1950s musicals....but in reality, it's a bittersweet flashback tale of a half-century slice of one man's life as a small-town barber, where fate has permanently halted his dreams of success in the big city.

The film steers clear of the cardboard clichés that such films were fond of in the '50s; instead we get thoughtful vignettes (most beautifully photographed) of the progression of events, big and small, through one man's days and years. As such, it becomes at times a mirror that we look into. David Wayne's performance is stunning, and all the other players are ideally cast as well.

This could be the perfect movie.

There are a number of moments of screen magic, but I can't forget the quiet scene of final transition near the film's end as the camera pans away from the barbershop and we find ourselves in the present day.

You'll cheer for the barber, folks. And don't go through life without seeing "Wait 'Til The Sun Shines, Nellie". It's the kind of film greatness we no longer see.

In the immediate post World War II period, 20th Century Fox launched two very different genres of film. One was the semi-documentary type of movie, often shot on location, that generally featured gritty, realistic stories about urban life. These films may be exemplified by Call Northside 777, Kiss of Death, Pickup on South Street and The House on 92nd Street. At the same time, this studio ventured into an idealized world of nostalgia that usually illustrated family oriented narratives about a long ago era involving charming domestic adventures, both large and small. Some of these titles include Cheaper by the Dozen, Margie, State Fair and Centennial Summer.

The latter category also includes Wait 'Til the Sun Shines, Nellie. In many ways, it is the best illustration of these films, with its homespun slice of life stories, barber shop quartet harmonies, romanticized small town atmosphere and blend of little scenes of happiness combined with tragedy. This film is now available on YouTube for reassessment by those who only remember it from the distant past. It certainly is worth another visit by such folks.

In seeing it again recently, I was struck by the fact that the David Wayne principal character changes very little over the years, notwithstanding his increasing maturity and exposure to a variety of life's experiences. He still seems to be a humorless, somewhat controlling person who likes to Impose his opinions upon others (including his newly wed wife) in the face of how wrong he often turned out to be. I missed this point completely the first time I saw it. Was the film intended to show us just how human he was? If so, am I the only one who believes that the film may have missed the mark here?

This is not a great movie, but it is a good attempt to capture the spirit of old fashioned sentimentality that has ceased to exist as a reality for a long time now. Its value to us as a modern audience is like that of an antique. And yes--there is a place for antiques in today's world.

Jean Peters is almost unknown today, but her charm and beauty are on full display here. Her most interesting role may have been as the female lead in the Tyrone Power historical epic Captain from Castile. While David Wayne is probably best remembered for his comic roles on Broadway and in films, this one is likely to be his most fully realized movie performance. However, Wayne's finest film effort arose when he revisited the old Peter Lorre part in the underappreciated remake of Fritz Lang's classic M. Check it out for an interesting moviegoing experience.

I agree with many others who've commented about this wonderful movie. My sadness is that other generations have not been able to see it on TV, VHS, or DVD. Because of that, it has been lost to new fans. There are few movies that have captured the era after the turn of the century as well (although this one encompasses a period of time beyond that.) "The Strawberry Blonde" is another. David Wayne, always an under-rated screen actor was celebrated on Broadway, winning Tony Awards for playing Sakini in "Teahouse of the August Moon" and Og in "Finian's Rainbow. Here, we follow his character's life as a young man as he grows old with friends and family beside him and his love for Nellie everlasting. It's a touching story full of nostalgia. It deserves better. Isn't it amazing that so many of us remember it from our youth? That's how good it is.

Some people might think, by the title, that this is one of those La La Land musicals, where everything ends up sunshine and roses. That is NOT the case. This movie is based on a novel ("I Heard Them Sing") that has a dark side to it and though the movie's lighter, it's still more serious than the title implies.

Like in the book, the marriage of Ben and Nellie (her name here is taken from the title, which is taken from the famous barbershop quartet song; in the book, she's Millie), played by David Wayne and Jean Peters, gets off to a precarious start, as it's apparent he's looking forward to settling down in a small-town suburb of Chicago, while she'd rather live in the city itself. Unlike the book, where she wants to travel while he claims he's content where he is, here Nellie makes it clear she doesn't want to remain living in a town where she doesn't fit in and would be happier in the city and Ben pretends to go along with this, saying eventually they'll live in Chicago. The trouble takes a dramatic turn when Nellie discovers Ben doesn't just work as a barber, he owns the shop, as well as a lot of real estate in the town where he means to stay. Feeling betrayed by his duplicity, she takes a fateful trip to Chicago, followed by the husband of one of the women in town who looks down her nose at Nellie, as he hopes to seduce her along the way.

The second half of the movie is about Ben's troubled relationship with his son, which turns into a worse disaster than his marriage.

The story's told in flashback and starts with Ben reminiscing at the 50th anniversary of the town's founding.

It's worth watching, if you don't mind the absence of the usual Hollywood HEA ending.

Although this isn't a "great film," there's something compelling and memorable about it. Like another commenter on the film, I saw this in childhood. It's been thirty three years since 1952, but I have never forgotten the story or its ridiculously cumbersome title. See it if you have the opportunity. You'll feel like a voyeur of small town life as it evolves through the decades. More than any other film, this one brings a human face to the historical drama of early twentieth century "progress." It's engaging enough for a young viewer and memorable enough for an older one. Furthermore, it's easy to like the characters and watch their passage through time.

I lived in Hutchinson, Kansas during the filming of this motion picture. With Jean Peters, David Wayne and Hugh Marlowe along with director Henry King in our home town was a great compliment to our state. Then, later, to see familiar sites on the big screen and portrayed in classic premiere photography made Kansans very proud. It was one of the exciting times of our history with Hollywood in Kansas.

It is a big disappointment that this film is NOT available on DVD. The plot is upbeat and positive and needs to be shared with the present generation.

Please, review and consider the value of availability on DVD.

Dudley

Essentially a two-part movie about a small town barber. The first part is focused on the barber's marriage. The second part is about his relationships with his children. In the first part, the barber shows himself to be quite dishonest with his wife, though well liked by his buddies in the shop. He lied to her about many important matters just to keep her contented in the small town. Nellie and her suitor suffer a bad end when she finally seeks her dream of going to the big city. A dream her husband deprived her of. The first part ended with him showing more grief about his wife's imagined betrayal, than her demise. He blamed others as cause of her actions, rather than his deceptions. So the lying stuffed shirt lives into old age, while his wife dies young seeking her dream. Not a story of much interest to me. The theme song was overplayed throughout, but the song and dance routine by the son and his future wife was isolated entertainment. One can defend the movie as being representative of the time, made during blacklisting and a radically conservative swing in American politics. But the message of the movie is clear. Anyone who leaves the small town for the big city is doomed in those dens of inequity. And who doesn't love the corn of a barbershop quartet and small town parade to end a movie on an up note. The only redeeming part of this twisted, small town soap opera was Jean Peters in the initial half as the attractive female lead. But this is more of a vehicle for a very old popular song, than any actress.

I remember seeing this movie when I was in high school. I have always wanted to see it again. I hope this movie will be restored and released to the public for viewing. I loved the story behind the movie.As I recall the movie was about life in the 20's and 30's, during a period when people wore elegant clothing and families were a big thing. It basically touched on the personal life of a barber and his family and the trials and tragedies that touched their lives. It was a movie that left a lasting impression on me, and one that I will never forget. It was also filmed during a time when the movie world was putting out a lot of musicals, and this story was more in the drama filed. I have watched for a long time in hopes that someone would restore it and present it again to the American public. I think there are a lot of people who would enjoy this classic film, along with many of the other well known performers that made movie's during this era.I would also like to see a producer remake this film based on modern day times.

I was 13 years old when I saw this movie. I was in an orphanage at the time. I also have never been able to forget it, tho I have trouble remembering the entire movie. I do however remember that it made an impact on me. I would recommend that it be available for all kids to see. Even tho they are more into violence I think they could get something out of it. As a child being affected by it, I still remember the ending and for some reason it has made an impact in the way I have lived my life. It has a moral to it, but you must have the ability to look at the movie in an objective way, unless you have had something happen in your life that is associated with the things in the movie. Since my family was a disaster already happened, I was able to subject myself into the characters plot.

They don't make em like this anymore, that fits this movie. It's the story of a small town man who settles and marries, his joys and his sorrows in his journey through life set in his hometown.I loved this movie when I saw it, and after all these years it still smolders in my mind. David Wayne gives the performance of his career in the title role. What stuck me was the feeling of intimacy as I identified with his character of the town barber in a small town. When tragedy strikes,it strikes us all,and few more words can be said. There is no place like home, say that again as you watch; Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellis. A great film the has all the elements of a great film and examines the dramas of life in small town America.

I found myself wanting to go to the barber shop to get a shave. I felt that David Wayne's performance was outstanding and very convincing. His handling of a straight razor appeared credible as well, as though he really was a trained barber. I have seen so many films and TV shows that lack credibility where an actor playing a certain role cannot actually perform the tasks that his character should be able to perform such as shaving with a straight razor if playing the part of a barber.

It is really a heartbreaking story with a fairly good ending but not without its share of heartaches along the way. I felt more than a bit of nostalgia for the good olé days when simple folks had simple lives even though the complexities of life never change.

As a retired film editor, I think the 1952 version of "Wait 'Till the Sun Shines, Nellie" was one of the most enjoyable film I have ever watched. I wish I owned a copy of it for my own movie collection. Yes, the character David Wayne plays suffers from many tragedies, but I think anyone who watches it can learn from the film. The film teaches viewers something about honesty between couples, something about race relations and some of the benefits and problems for children of growing up in a small town. The fact that it was shot in black and white adds to the drama of the film. I cried at the end every time I saw it on TV when the TV station I worked at showed it at night or on weekends.

I only saw this movie once in 1952. I was only 5 OR 6, but it is the earliest specific movie I ever remember seeing. The one thing that impressed me most was a rack of decorated shaving mugs. Each customer in the barber shop where much of the story took place had his own personal mug. (That makes sense. It would prevent passing diseases.) I believe there was also a lot of barber shop quartet singing. I think this is where my love of such music originated. I wish that they would release this movie on DVD; so I would have the chance to see it again. At the same time, I'm afraid to see it again for fear that I would be disappointed. I personally recommend this movie for anyone.