High school sweethearts Agusta (Gussie) Sawyer (Sissy Spacek) and Henry Squires (Kevin Kline) have their lives in front of them. They both want to get out of their small Ocean City, Maryland town. Henry wants to write for a big publication and Gussie wants to be a flight attendant and travel the world. Violets are Blue is the story of what happens to these people when their lives have taken a detour from their original plans.
Gussie is now a famous photographic journalist, and Henry has settled down in Ocean City, running the community newspaper and living in his old house with his wife (Bonnie Bedelia) and son. Their teenage dreams have gone by the wayside. But after fifteen years Gussie returns Ocean City for a vacation, and the two high school sweethearts are reunited.
Old Feelings
Henry and Gussie start seeing each other again, while Henry keeps this fact from his family and Gussie tries to keep it from her parents. Henry is an upstanding citizen of the town with a family. And Gussie is the potential home-wrecker.
But their feelings for each other are still very much alive. They are still in love, even though they have been apart for many years. True love doesn’t die.
Now that they have a second chance, they must search their hearts for the right thing to do. Gussie does not have as much to lose. Her professional reputation will not suffer. She is a top-notch photographer. But it is Henry who has everything to lose – his family, his hometown reputation, his standing in the business community. That weighs heavily on his mind, but does not stop him from sharing time with Gussie.
The Decision
Gussie and Henry are in love. That is a fact. The feelings they shared all those years ago have not diminished over time. They have a true, abiding love. So when Gussie gets Henry a job writing an article for a big magazine while she is the photographer on that article, he feels conflicted. The assignment is his dream come true, and working with Gussie is the icing on the cake. He tells himself and his family that it is a two-week assignment, but will he be able to return to his somewhat slow life after a taste of big-time journalism, an international adventure, and time alone with Gussie? That is also the question his wife is asking herself.
In the end, Henry has to really search his heart. It is a difficult decision. He truly loves Gussie but he also has responsibilities at home. Will his old dreams outweigh his current responsibilities?
Henry must decide. Gussie is lobbying for him to go with her. If he does, it means everything he ever wanted. But does he still want those things now that he is a grown man?
I believe viewers will also be conflicted over what choice Henry should make. He and Gussie are a great couple. But Henry is important to his family.
This 1986 film is an enjoyable drama. For anyone who thinks about their missed true love, it’s a great movie to see.
Violets are Blue is part of the Warner Archive Collection and is available Made on Demand from their website.
- Violets are Blue DVD
- Studio: Columbia Pictures/ Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
- Rated: PG
- Running time: 85 minutes
