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Another Time, Another Place (1958) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Another Time, Another Place (1958) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
1958 · 91 mins · English
Directed by
Lewis Allen
Starring
Sean Connery, Barry Sullivan, Lana Turner, John Le Mesurier, Martin Stephens, Julian Somers

Set in England during World War II, an American news correspondent falls into a doomed affair with a married British correspondent. When he is killed in action, she fears a nervous breakdown and journeys to Cornwall to grieve alongside his family, deliberately keeping the true nature of their relationship hidden.

Romance Drama Cast, crew & box office
On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Another Time, Another Place
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Another Time, Another Place (1958)

Where can you watch Another Time, Another Place? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Hoopla, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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5 main characters · contains spoilers

Another Time, Another Place Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Another Time, Another Place (1958), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Sara Scott - Lana Turner

    An American journalist in wartime London who navigates love, duty, and ambition. She wrestles with whether to marry a wealthy boss or pursue a forbidden romance with Mark, and she ultimately decides to stand by her lover while planning to document his wartime reporting as a book.

    • 💖 Romance
    • 🕵️‍♀️ Journalist
    • 🧭 Moral conflict

  • Mark Trevor - Sean Connery

    A British reporter and husband to Kay who becomes involved with Sara. He is portrayed as charming and dedicated to his craft, but his marriage and responsibilities complicate his affair. His death in a plane crash as the war ends marks a turning point for Sara and Kay.

    • 💼 Reporter
    • 💔 Forbidden love
    • 🛩️ War casualty

  • Carter Reynolds - Barry Sullivan

    Sara’s wealthy American boss who urges her to return to New York and continue her career there. His presence represents practicality and financial leverage, testing Sara’s commitment to Mark and to personal happiness.

    • 💰 Wealth
    • 🧭 Career pressure
    • 💬 Persuasion

  • Kay Trevor - Glynis Johns

    Mark Trevor’s young widow who shares a seaside Cornwall home with Sara for a time. She embodies grace and resilience, and her bond with Sara is tested when she learns the truth about the affair and is forced to confront her grief.

    • 💔 Widow
    • 🏖️ Cornwall
    • 👩‍👧 Family

  • Brian Trevor - Martin Stephens

    The young son of Mark Trevor who appears in Kay’s life after the tragedy. His presence underscores the personal cost of the war and the fragile ties that bind families across continents.

    • 👦 Child
    • 👨‍👩‍👦 Family
    • 🕊️ Loss

Last updated: February 19, 2026 at 09:24

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Setting

Where and When Does Another Time, Another Place Take Place?

The setting of Another Time, Another Place (1958): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

1944-1945

Set in the final year of World War II, the narrative follows Sara Scott as Europe braces for victory. The era is marked by wartime journalism, personal sacrifices, and a looming sense of loss as Allied efforts intensify. As the war winds down, the characters confront grief, moral choices, and the uncertain future after hostilities end.

Location

London, Cornwall, New York City

The action shifts between wartime London and Mark Trevor’s seaside hometown in Cornwall, with Sara operating as a correspondent amidst blackout nights and rationing. London provides a backdrop of danger, censorship, and romance, while Cornwall offers a contrasting tranquil setting where personal histories unfold. The story also travels briefly to New York City as Sara weighs career opportunities against love.

  • 🌍 World War II era
  • 🏙️ Wartime London
  • 🏖️ Cornwall seaside town
  • 🗽 New York City backdrop

Last updated: February 19, 2026 at 09:24

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3 major themes

Another Time, Another Place Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Another Time, Another Place (1958) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Love and Betrayal

    Sara’s affair with Mark tests loyalties and social expectations. The relationship is built on urgent attraction but fractured by deception and the realization that Mark is already married. The emotional tension drives choices about loyalty, honesty, and the consequences of pursuing private desires in a war-torn world. The theme explores how love can be both a refuge and a source of conflict.

  • War and Aftermath

    The war backdrop shapes every decision, from journalism to personal relationships. Mourning Mark’s death and Sara’s subsequent psychiatric break reveal how conflict scars people beyond the battlefield. The post-war period forces adjustment, memory, and the slow process of rebuilding a life. The narrative uses war’s shadow to discuss resilience and healing.

  • Truth and Reconciliation

    Sara’s confession to Kay tests forgiveness and the boundaries of honesty. Kay’s reaction reveals pride, grief, and the cost of buried truths. The eventual reconciliation at the station offers a fragile moment of understanding, suggesting that truth, while painful, is essential to moving forward. The theme centers on the complexities of telling the truth within intimate relationships.

Last updated: February 19, 2026 at 09:24

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Character & theme questions

Another Time, Another Place Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Another Time, Another Place (1958): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Another Time, Another Place set?

The movie is set in two primary locations: wartime London during World War II, and a seaside town in Cornwall where Mark Trevor's family lives. The story also briefly includes New York City as Sara considers her career options.

  • london
  • cornwall
  • new york city
  • setting
  • wartime
Q2

What time period is Another Time, Another Place set in?

The story takes place during the final years of World War II, specifically 1944-1945, as Europe braces for victory. The era is marked by wartime journalism, blackout nights, rationing, and the looming end of hostilities.

  • 1944
  • 1945
  • world war ii
  • wartime
  • era
Q3

What are the main themes in Another Time, Another Place?

The movie explores three core themes: Love and Betrayal (the affair between Sara and married Mark), War and Aftermath (the psychological toll of conflict), and Truth and Reconciliation (the painful process of honesty between Sara and Kay).

  • themes
  • love
  • betrayal
  • war
  • truth
  • reconciliation
Q4

Who is Sara Scott in the movie?

Sara Scott is an American news correspondent working in wartime London. She becomes involved in a forbidden romance with married British reporter Mark Trevor, while also being pursued by her wealthy American boss Carter Reynolds. She wrestles with duty, ambition, and personal desires.

  • sara scott
  • journalist
  • american
  • correspondent
Q5

Who is Kay Trevor in the movie?

Kay Trevor is the young widow of Mark Trevor, living in Cornwall with her son Brian. She represents grace and resilience, and her relationship with Sara is tested when she learns the truth about the affair after Mark's death.

  • kay trevor
  • widow
  • cornwall
  • mark's wife
Q6

What is wartime London like in the film?

Wartime London serves as a backdrop of danger, censorship, and romance. The city during World War II features blackout nights, rationing, and the constant presence of war. It is where Sara operates as a correspondent and where her affair with Mark unfolds.

  • london
  • wartime
  • blackout
  • rationing
  • journalism
Q7

What role does Cornwall play in Another Time, Another Place?

Cornwall provides a contrasting tranquil setting to wartime London. It is Mark Trevor's seaside hometown where his family lives. After Mark's death, Sara travels there to grieve alongside his widow Kay, deliberately keeping the true nature of their relationship hidden.

  • cornwall
  • seaside
  • grieving
  • family
Q8

What does the Love and Betrayal theme mean in the movie?

The Love and Betrayal theme explores how Sara's affair with Mark tests loyalties and social expectations. The relationship is built on urgent attraction but fractured by deception, since Mark is already married. The theme shows how love can be both a refuge and a source of conflict.

  • affair
  • marriage
  • deception
  • loyalty
Q9

What does the War and Aftermath theme explore?

The War and Aftermath theme shows how the war backdrop shapes every decision, from journalism to personal relationships. Mourning Mark's death and Sara's subsequent psychiatric break reveal how conflict scars people beyond the battlefield, forcing adjustment and the slow process of rebuilding.

  • war
  • grief
  • trauma
  • healing
  • post-war
Q10

What does the Truth and Reconciliation theme involve?

The Truth and Reconciliation theme centers on Sara's confession to Kay about the affair. Kay's reaction reveals pride, grief, and the cost of buried truths. Their eventual reconciliation at the station suggests that truth, while painful, is essential to moving forward.

  • confession
  • forgiveness
  • honesty
  • truth
Q11

Who is Mark Trevor in Another Time, Another Place?

Mark Trevor is a British reporter and husband to Kay who becomes involved with Sara during the war. He is portrayed as charming and dedicated to his craft, but his marriage and responsibilities complicate his affair. His death in a plane crash as the war ends marks a turning point in the story.

  • mark trevor
  • reporter
  • british
  • husband
Q12

What is the relationship between Sara and Mark like?

Sara and Mark have a doomed affair built on urgent attraction during wartime London. Mark is already married to Kay, making the relationship one of deception and moral conflict. Their romance is central to the film's exploration of love and betrayal.

  • sara
  • mark
  • affair
  • relationship
  • romance

Movie threads

More Movies Like Another Time, Another Place, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Another Time, Another Place tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about grief and secrets like Another Time, Another Place

Stories of profound loss and the emotional weight of hidden relationships. If you were moved by the melancholic tone and heavy emotional weight of Another Time, Another Place, you'll find similar stories here. This collection features dramas about characters processing loss while hiding a painful secret, leading to a bittersweet emotional journey.

  • melancholic
  • grieving
  • somber
  • reflective
  • mournful
  • bittersweet
  • Tone: melancholic, somber, reflective
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow a character after a significant loss, often involving a hidden romantic relationship or a concealed truth. The plot revolves around their internal conflict and the psychological toll of their secret, culminating in a moment of potential catharsis or quiet resolution that is bittersweet rather than purely tragic.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a deeply melancholic and reflective mood, a steady pacing that emphasizes emotional depth, and a central theme of grappling with grief while bearing a heavy secret. They offer a similar viewing experience of somber, character-driven drama.

Never Said Goodbye movie poster

Never Said Goodbye

2016
Rabbit Hole movie poster

Rabbit Hole

2010
Moonlight Mile movie poster

Moonlight Mile

2002
I've Loved You So Long movie poster

I've Loved You So Long

2008
Guernsey movie poster

Guernsey

2006
Drive My Car movie poster

Drive My Car

2021
Longing movie poster

Longing

2017
Strange Weather movie poster

Strange Weather

2017

Post-war romantic dramas like Another Time, Another Place

Intimate stories exploring love, loss, and moral dilemmas in the aftermath of war. For viewers who appreciated the World War II setting and complex romance of Another Time, Another Place, this list highlights similar films. Discover other emotionally heavy stories where wartime circumstances lead to doomed affairs, profound grief, and difficult journeys toward healing.

  • romantic
  • somber
  • historical
  • tense
  • mournful
  • melancholic
  • Tone: melancholic, tense, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives often begin with a romantic relationship formed under the tense, abnormal conditions of war. The plot follows the aftermath of this relationship—often its tragic end—and the protagonist's struggle to reconcile their feelings with the harsh realities of post-war life, leading to a nuanced exploration of love, loss, and guilt.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are connected by their historical wartime setting, which directly influences the central romantic and moral conflict. They share a steady, deliberate pacing that allows for deep character study, a melancholic tone, and a focus on the heavy emotional consequences of love in a time of crisis.

The Aftermath movie poster

The Aftermath

2019
Postcard movie poster

Postcard

2010
Homecoming movie poster

Homecoming

1948
Adelheid movie poster

Adelheid

1970
Another Time, Another Place movie poster

Another Time, Another Place

1958
The Passionate Friends movie poster

The Passionate Friends

1949
White Palace movie poster

White Palace

1990
Remembrance movie poster

Remembrance

2011

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In Our Time

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Every angle

Another Time, Another Place (1958) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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