The Year Before the War - DVD

As part of a teaching exercise for his inmate students, a documentary filmmaker reconstructs an unsolved murder. Outside of the prison, he is compelled to retrace events and family ties linked to the crime.

Returned stateside after having been downed over Germany, US Army pilot Gene Lewis (Jake Abel) was looking forward to a reunion with OSS agent fiancée Penny Duncolm (Brianna Hildebrand) and recovery at the expansive New England estate of her uncle (John Cusack) and aunt (Mira Sorvino). Or, he was, until government intelligence informed him that an Axis leak was within the home-and that he was expected to find out who. Géza Röhrig, David B. Meadows, Sal Rendino also star. 102 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack English.

This intimate award-winning documentary contains film clips, never-before-seen home movies, rare archival footage and the recollections of some of the people who knew this Hollywood love goddess best. Includes memories shared by Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Celeste Holm and more. 1985/color-b&w/115 min/NR/fullscreen.