• Trending
    • Certified Fresh & Verified Hot
    • TV Premier dates
    • New horror Movies
    • Best Movies of All Time
  • Movies
    • Movies In Theaters
    • Movies at Home
  • TV Shows
    • New TV
    • Most Popular TV
  • News
    • What to Watch
    • Guides
    • RT News
    • Awards
  • Games
    • Find Your Next Horror Watch
  • Video
  • Showtimes
  • Fanstore
  • About Rotten Tomatoes
  • Critics
  • Download the App Now
  • Logout
Rotten Tomatoes
Suggestions will appear as you start typing. Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App New News Showtimes

Until They Sail

Play trailer Poster for Until They Sail 1957,  1h 35m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 50% 6 Reviews Tomatometer 62% 100+ Ratings Popcornmeter
50% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 62% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
In 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the New Zealand city of Christchurch is visited by hundreds of U.S. Marines -- a welcome sight for the lonely women there. The four Leslie sisters (Jean Simmons, Joan Fontaine, Piper Laurie, Sandra Dee) each become involved with the soldiers, with varying shades of happiness or tragedy resulting. Despite being married, Barbara finds herself drawn to the strapping Jack Harding (Paul Newman), while the spirited Anne falls for a captain (Charles Drake).

Critics Reviews

View More
Philip Oakes London Evening Standard Jun 16, 2026
An irrelevant aside on war-time morals. Go to Full Review
Bosley Crowther New York Times Jun 17, 2008
2/5
Unfortunately there is a good deal of introspective soul-searching before this narrative arrives at its sad and happy endings. Go to Full Review
Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Jan 8, 2020
Better than most of the soap operas it resembles, this tells of the wartime romances and heartaches of four New Zealand sisters and says one or two uncommonly blunt things... Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jul 29, 2009
C+
Robert Wise directs Paul Newman for the second time (after Somebody Up There Like Me) in this New Zealand-set WWII sentimental melodrama, which is worth seeing for the acting of Newman and Jean Simmons as his love interest. Go to Full Review
Film4 Staff Film4 Jun 17, 2008
The film explores the themes of relationships and sexual morality in the time of war and is based on the novel by James A Michener. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Sep 10, 2007
C+
It's a soap opera love story that delves into questions about morality during wartime. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews
Until They Sail

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Robert Wise

Director

Jean Simmons

Barbara Leslie Forbes

Paul Newman

Capt. Jack Harding

Joan Fontaine

Anne Leslie

Piper Laurie

Delia Leslie Friskett

Charles Drake

Capt. Richard Bates

More Like This

View All
I Shot Jesse James 75% 67% I Shot Jesse James Watchlist Jesus 86% Jesus Watchlist City for Conquest 75% City for Conquest Watchlist The Scarlet Empress 89% 85% The Scarlet Empress Watchlist A Man's Castle 75% 77% A Man's Castle Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Until They Sail

Until They Sail (1957) Until They Sail (1957) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the New Zealand city of Christchurch is visited by hundreds of U.S. Marines -- a welcome sight for the lonely women there. The four Leslie sisters (Jean Simmons, Joan Fontaine, Piper Laurie, Sandra Dee) each become involved with the soldiers, with varying shades of happiness or tragedy resulting. Despite being married, Barbara finds herself drawn to the strapping Jack Harding (Paul Newman), while the spirited Anne falls for a captain (Charles Drake).
Director
Robert Wise
Producer
Charles Schnee
Production Co
Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 26, 1957, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 20, 2016
Runtime
1h 35m
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings