Founded on a ridiculous misconception of justice, produced by Selznick International with unfailing sentimentality, and ludicrously miscast in attempt to use available star talent, "I'll Be Seeing You" is an imposing monument to the maudlin tastes and perverted emotions of Hollywood's film-makers.

Provided with a theme of exceptional realism and emotional intensity, the writers and directors have spent their efforts in futile attempts to add extraneous humor and pathos to the film.

The basic situation shows two handicapped people trying to help each other find the way back to mental security. One is a psychoneurotic soldier on his own for two weeks--the other an inmate of a women's prison, freed for a Christmas "furlough." The field for honest psychological exploration in large and inviting, but the movie takes instead the high road to popular appeal.

First, there must be background for the girl. She must not be too guilty; yet she must not have been "framed." In an effort to find the happy medium between innocence and culpability, the movie's writers have evolved a self-defense manslaughter charge that a third-rate Yale law student could break down in ten minutes, with the result that for the rest of the film one can think only that the entire procedure is unnecessary.

Then there is Shirley Temple. Miss Temple is living in the dim illumination of former plaudits. As an eight-year-old song and dance specialist she may have been cute for some; but as an actress she is about as convincing as Pauline in "The Perils of ..."

Further, there must be incidents, to add to the effect and the length of the movie. Incidents like an army Lieutenant calling a Sergeant "Sir," like a housewife of barely moderate means buying at sight for her 17-year-old daughter a $60 evening gown.

Wasted is the word for the performances of Joseph Cotton, Ginger Rogers, and Spring Byington in this motion picture. Miss Byington is perfect as the understanding mother of, unfortunately, Miss Temple; Miss Rogers pertrays an extremely difficult role, with great skill, although one begins to have difficulty imagining her as twentyish. Cotten has perhaps the only worthwhile scene in the film: a five-minute psychoneurotic's battle with himself for control of his mind, and he does it with unbelievable dignity and power.

"I'll Be Seeing You" strikes out boldly not for the deep human feelings for which it could have been aimed, but instead for the grossest and most infantile of audience tastes. It fails where other movies have filed and will continue to fall under the hands of such as Mr. Selznick. jal