The Return of the Soldier

The Return of the Soldier

Year: 1982

Runtime: 99 mins

Language: English

Director: Alan Bridges

Drama

Returning from the horrors of World War I, veteran Chris Baldry suffers total amnesia, failing to recognize his wife Kitty or recall their shared past. As he struggles to adjust to his own home, he turns to his childhood sweetheart Margaret Grey for comfort, while his older cousin Jenny also pursues his affection, complicating his fragile recovery.

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Timeline & Setting – The Return of the Soldier (1982)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Return of the Soldier (1982). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1914-1916

The story spans the early years of World War I, beginning in 1914 as men head to the Front and continuing into 1916. The timeline reflects the war’s impact on domestic life, medical understanding of shell-shock, and the evolving relationships at the heart of the narrative.

Location

England, London, Western Front (France)

The action unfolds on the English home front with a farewell party before soldiers depart for the Front. It then shifts to a London hospital where Captain Chris Baldry is treated for shell-shock. The backdrop extends to the Western Front in France, reminding viewers of the war that dominates the characters’ lives and choices.

🗺️ WWI settings 🇬🇧 English home front 🏥 London hospital 🪖 Western Front

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:41

Main Characters – The Return of the Soldier (1982)

Meet the key characters of The Return of the Soldier (1982), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Captain Chris Baldry (Alan Bates)

A British army captain returning from the Western Front with shell-shock, he cannot remember his wife Kitty and is drawn to his past with Margaret. His altered memory and childlike pleasures reveal the war's psychological toll and challenge the couple's relationship, as the present clashes with a cherished earlier life.

🧠 Memory loss 💔 Love vs duty 🧒 Childlike 🕰️ Time and memory

Kitty Baldry (Julie Christie)

Wife of Chris who longs to restore the pre-war husband she believed she knew. She struggles with his memory of another woman and the social expectations of marriage, all while trying to hold their relationship together in a world reshaped by war.

💔 Love and loyalty ⚖️ Duty vs desire 🏛️ Social expectations

Margaret Grey (Glenda Jackson)

Chris's past love who re-enters his life, reflecting a conflict between class, affection, and the longing for a different future. Her presence complicates the marriage and reveals the emotional complexities shaped by social boundaries and wartime separation.

💖 Lost love ⚖️ Class differences 🤝 Empathy

Doctor Anderson (Ian Holm)

A medical expert who advises on treatment and the ethics of healing. He contends with whether allowing Chris to reconnect with Margaret or disclose past memories might actually help or harm him, highlighting the moral gray area in wartime medicine.

🩺 Medical ⚖️ Ethical dilemma 💡 Insight

Jenny Baldry (Ann-Margret)

Chris's cousin who witnesses the strain of the situation on the family and contributes to the sense of communal care. Her involvement helps reveal the human impact of Chris's condition on those around him.

👩‍👧 Family ties 💬 Concern 🤝 Support

William Grey (Frank Finlay)

Margaret's husband, a practical and supportive presence who embodies a stabilizing force amid upheaval. He navigates the delicate balance between loyalty, compassion, and the complexities introduced by Chris and Margaret's rekindled connection.

🤝 Supportive spouse ⚖️ Compassion 🧭 Complexity of marriage

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:41

Major Themes – The Return of the Soldier (1982)

Explore the central themes of The Return of the Soldier (1982), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧠 Memory and Identity

The film centers on how memory shapes who we are and how trauma can alter self-perception. Chris returns with impaired memory, unable to recall his wife and drawn to a past connection. This tension questions whether healing means restoring a former identity or accepting a transformed self shaped by war.

⚖️ Love, Class, and Duty

The romance between Chris, Kitty, and Margaret unfolds against the backdrop of social hierarchy and marital fidelity. Margaret's working-class origins collide with Kitty's expectations, challenging the idea of marriage as a fixed, exclusive bond. War intensifies these tensions, forcing loyalties to be renegotiated beyond traditional norms.

🩺 War Trauma and Healing

Shell-shock and medical ethics drive the drama, with Doctor Anderson weighing what constitutes true healing. The possibility of 'curing' Chris by reviving happiness through memory raises questions about cruelty versus compassion. The story ultimately asks whether healing means returning to the past or embracing a new, war-shaped reality.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:41

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The Return of the Soldier Summary

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The Return of the Soldier Summary

The Return of the Soldier Timeline

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The Return of the Soldier Timeline

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The Return of the Soldier (1982) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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