Invitation (1952) Reviews

Bronislau Kaper's haunting musical score for A Life of Her Own (1951) was recycled in the romantic melodrama Invitation. Dorothy McGuire stars as Ellen Bowker, a wealthy young woman with a rare heart condition. Knowing that his daughter may have only a year or so to live, Ellen's father Simon Bowker (Louis Calhern) wants to make certain that her last months on earth will be happy ones. To that end, he arranges for Dan Pierce (Van Johnson) to marry the girl. More interested in Ellen's millions than in Ellen herself, Dan agrees. Eventually, of course, he genuinely falls in love with the girl. But trouble looms on the horizon when Ellen discovers the real reason behind Dan's whirlwind courtship. How can a happy ending possibly result from all this? It's best to reveal no more at this point. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi