The Very Thought of You

As Army Sergeants Dave (Dennis Morgan) and "Fixit" (Dane Clark) return from three grueling years of war in the Aleutian campaign, they're given a brief respite on the mainland. In Pasadena, they enjoy a Thanksgiving pass, revisiting Dave's alma mater, Caltech, before being redeployed to the Pacific Theater. During this interlude, they encounter two young women who work at a parachute factory: Cora (Faye Emerson), who instantly captures Fixit's attention, and Janet (Eleanor Parker), whose connection with Dave stems from their shared college days.

As it becomes clear that Dave has no family nearby, Janet extends an invitation for him to join her household for Thanksgiving dinner. However, her family proves unwelcoming, except for her father and younger sister Ellie. The tension is palpable, particularly between Janet's mother and Dave, who's viewed with disapproval due to his military service. This disdain stems from Janet's sister Molly (Andrea King), who's married to a sailor but engages in extramarital affairs behind his back. Her brother, classified 4-F, is equally rude to Dave.

Ellie, however, takes it upon herself to facilitate a romantic connection between Janet and Dave. After a day at Mount Wilson that runs longer than expected, they arrive late for dinner, only to be unable to bear parting ways. As a result, they spend the evening at Cora's apartment, eventually drifting off to sleep. It's 3 a.m. when Dave returns Janet to her home, unaware of the tumult that awaits him.

As Dave prepares to report for duty in San Diego, he finds himself smitten and decides to marry Janet. Their brief honeymoon is followed by a series of challenges as Molly intercepts their correspondence. Feeling trapped, Janet makes the decision to move out and live with Cora instead.

The couple manages to steal away for a clandestine encounter in San Diego, where they sleep on a beach due to the unavailability of hotels and trailer parks. News of Dave's and Fixit's injuries in combat eventually brings everyone in Janet's family to their senses. Molly even begs her husband Fred (William Prince) for forgiveness, and they reconcile. It takes several months, but Dave finally returns home to rejoin his wife and meet their newborn son.