Till the End of Time is a 1946 American drama film directed by Edward Dmytryk and starring Dorothy McGuire, Guy Madison, Robert Mitchum, and Bill Williams.
It was based on the novel They Dream of Home by Niven Busch (whose wife Teresa Wright appeared in The Best Years of Our Lives); unlike the soldier, sailor and airman of that film, the male leads in Till the End of Time are all U.S. Marines.
53 is played throughout the film; it was given lyrics and adapted by Buddy Kaye and Ted Mossman and became a major hit for Perry Como at the time spending 10 weeks at number one on the Billboard popular music charts.
Arriving in Los Angeles, Cliff finds that his parents are not home but meets his new neighbor, Helen Ingersoll, a vivacious 18-year-old who is instantly infatuated with him.
Bill stops by to brag that he has won $2,100 (equivalent to $33,000 in 2023) gambling and intends to buy a small cattle ranch in New Mexico.
While Cliff easily discusses girls, gambling and drinking with him, his mother sits in silent disapproval and makes it clear she hopes not to see Bill again.
Unhappy and jealous, Cliff comes home late and argues with his parents, who are upset that he is always out and accuse him of wasting time with a "boy" like Bill Tabeshaw, rather than following the plans they have for his future.
At Pat's suggestion, Cliff takes a job at the electronics factory where she works, but on his first day tries to pick a fight with his foreman when he points out a mistake.
During the ensuing mêlée, Perry discovers that he can still throw a punch, but Bill is hit over the head with a beer bottle, seriously injuring him.
At the hospital, Bill is prepped for surgery, and tells Cliff that if he pulls through, he will go back home and work and save to buy a ranch.
While they wait, Cliff tells his father that despite the difficulties of readjusting to civilian life, in many ways he feels luckier than Bill and Perry; he has a job that he likes, though he's not sure he wants to make it a career, and he has Pat, who he wants to marry.