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Impressed by her performance in this film, but aware of Colbert's sensitivity, David O. Selznick approached her to play the lead role in Since You Went Away ( 1944 ).

She was initially reluctant to appear as mother of teenaged children, but Selznick admired her marketability.

The director, John Cromwell, later noted that Colbert was very professional, but Selznick expressed frustration with some of her demands.

He wrote in a memo to Colbert's agent that they had rebuilt several sets " because of her refusal to have the right side of her face photographed, on top of which we have to pay her not only a fabulous salary, but also give her two days off a month, which works out to $ 5000 every four weeks for doing absolutely nothing, and now she's demanding three .... Tell her there's a war on and we all have to make some sacrifices.

" Released in June 1944, the film became a substantial success and grossed almost $ 5 million in the United States.

The critic James Agee praised aspects of the film, but particularly Colbert's performance.

Colbert received her third Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.