Brooklyn born Susan Hayward had a 30 year career playing tough broads who hid a heart of gold underneath a steel exterior. "My Foolish Heart" is a wartime drama in which Hayward tells her story in flashback after admitting that she was once a nice girl. We then see her meeting soldier Dana Andrews, a handsome young man she falls head over heels in love with. War breaks out, and the two are torn apart. To say more would reveal plot twists best kept for a first viewing. However, what I will say is that don't let Hayward's hardness at the beginning of the film fool you: she is a truly vulnerable character capable of loving. The writers have created a very believable leading heroine, plus some wonderful supporting characters. Especially good is Robert Keith as her lovable dad who has a whiny wife (Jessie Royce Landis) to contend with. The scenes between Hayward and her parents are very well written, and almost as good as the love story itself. Andrews, although somewhat of a wooden actor, instills his character with warmth and charm that make the viewer understand why Hayward would fall so desperately in love. This is a top grade romantic drama for which Hayward was deservedly nominated for an Oscar. Its a shame that Keith was overlooked. There are some private scenes between Keith and Hayward that are truly riveting. Highly recommended!

This was a very good, though not great movie about a wartime romance. However, it does stand apart from similar films for two reasons--Miss Hayward's performance and the excellent and unexpected ending.

First, let's talk about Susan Hayward. Years ago, I saw her Oscar-winning performance for I WANT TO LIVE and I thoroughly hated the film, as her acting was so far over the top and silly that I felt she deserved a Razzie Award and NOT the Oscar. You'd just have to see it to believe how bad it was. And, as a result of this film, I used to think she couldn't act--after all, if this was her BEST performance, then I was afraid what a lesser performance might be like!! However, after seeing other films she made, such as I'LL CRY TOMORROW and MY FOOLISH HEART, I realize she was a really good actress. In this film, I was completely bowled over when Miss Hayward began producing real tears during a very emotional scene. This was amazing and you've got to respect this.

Second, in the end, it would have been easy to give the film a schmaltzy ending and have everyone live happily ever after--but they fortunately did not do this. Instead, you learned how Miss Hayward got the the point where she was an alcoholic and no longer capable of taking care of her daughter. While not "FUN", this made for a good and effective drama--nearly earning an 8.

Unhappy housewife Eloise Winters (Susan Hayward) is visited by old friend Mary Jane. There is a suggestion about Eloise's daughter Ramona and another man named Walt Dreiser (Dana Andrews). Her husband Lew Wengler is not happy either and threatens to take away Ramona. Eloise recalls happier days when she met her true love during the war.

The unhappy marriage is actually interesting. The true romance is less so. It also doesn't help that the story is told in flashback. Those are usually less compelling unless the structure injects something special. I kept thinking the divorce and fight over Ramona would be more compelling and more dramatic to watch. The love story struggles to gain traction. Its doom is expected and its drama comes off somewhat soapy. The melodrama is almost old fashion. The heat in the relationship is not as effective as expected. There is a possibility that the expectation is too high for this projected perfect love. That is why I think the idea of this love is more compelling than the actual telling of this love. Quite frankly, simple little flashbacks would be enough as Eloise and Lew have their divorce battles. This is trying for something artistically. I think it fails.