Faithful in My Fashion (1946)

Army Sergeant Jeff Compton (Tom Drake) is a returning World War II war hero who has been away serving four years. Though he was wounded and was sent to a POW camp, he survived intact and is now in New York City, returning to his sweetheart and his job at H.C. Bardley and Son department store during a two-week furlough. He formerly worked here as a shoe stock room clerk along with his coworker, Jean Kendrick (Donna Reed). Jean and Jeff had a whirlwind courtship before he left. During Army training, he proposed marriage in a letter, and included an engagement ring in the letter. It turns out, she did not have the heart to turn him down in a letter or while he was deployed overseas. Letting him down gently, she has now delayed the matter by four years and he returns in a whirlwind, talking elopement. In the meantime, Jean was promoted from the stockroom and is now a department store buyer executive with her own office. She even moved out of her modest New York apartment and lives in a grander style. In addition during the interim, she has convinced herself the smart thing to do is to marry the store's stuffy accountant, Walter (Warner Anderson); consequently, she is engaged to marry him - also. All of their friends from the store, being romantics at heart, band together to prevent unnecessary heartbreak, hoping to keep the charade going for at least two more weeks, and ultimately hoping to reunite the reluctant Jean with love-struck Jeff. Since Walter is away on business, they first arrange for Professor Boris (Sig Ruman) to loan out his apartment so Jean can temporarily move back in so not to reveal Jean's executive apartment to Jeff. Mr. Dilworthy (Edward Everett Horton), the manager, assigns Jean back to the stockroom temporarily where she comically struggles to perform her old job. After the lovebirds spend the night dining and dancing at their favorite restaurant, Jeff return her to her apartment which their friends have decorated wall to wall with flower bouquets, making her believe Jeff had this delivered. The next day, they drive north up the Atlantic coast to visit with Jeff's great grandfather (Harry Davenport) who owns a beautiful beach-side cottage complete with flower gardens and a pond. He informs Jean he will expect them to move in as soon as they are married. Jean is taken aback at the splendor. He ups the ante by presenting her with Jeff's mother's wedding dress, after which she breaks down in tears and is speechless. The two take a quick swim, eat oysters on the beach, and then return back to the city. The next day, they return to the store, but now Jeff is determined to elope, and he visits Walter to brag about his fiancée, but refers to her by a number, which indicates the stock room location. Walter then shares a story about a woman with cold feet. Jeff steps out to visit the jewelry department clerk to purchase a wedding ring. In the process, the clerk unknowingly divulges the fact that Walter is engaged to Jean. At about the same time, Walter receives the news from Jean about the double engagement. Realizing she still loves Jeff, she then informs Walter their engagement is off. After Jeff discovers he has been jilted, he is dumbstruck, and dejectedly leaves the store without a word to Jean. Their friends now have to re-confer for next steps. Eventually, they figure out a secret "merchandizing" plan to finalize the "sale." It involves two side-by-side window store displays and the couple as "emergency" volunteers setting up separate displays. With the connecting door opened, they are locked in and left alone with friends eavesdropping. Once she discloses the broken engagement with Walter, he rushes to her arms and they kiss ardently, which speaks volumes about their future intentions.