I liked this film. Yes, it's a very sentimental view of 1940's-1950s America, and was sort of an advertisement for 4-H Clubs. But I thought the basic story was a good one and the acting was pretty decent. Is it a great film? No. But it is quite good.
A widower farmer (Walter Brennan) is a bit of a bully in his own family who is moving to a new area to start a new farm. His kids can never do the things they want to because he controls what he calls "family meetings". And he is too stubborn to listen to recommendations of the local agricultural agent...and that agent falls in love with the farmer's oldest daughter. The farmer clearcuts lumber from a hilltop right near his farm, and disaster strikes twice -- first temporarily crippling him, and then with a flood which washes away much of their crops.
When I first began watching the film, I thought it was going to be something like Walter Brennan's television series "The Real McCoys". But that was a comedy, and this is no comedy. The question is -- will, or how will the family survive a stubborn and rather mean-spirited old man.
Walter Brennan is good here, although if you like that likable Walter Brennan...well, you're going to be disappointed. The main younger daughter is Natalie Wood, and she's quite impressive here. The main older daughter is Marguerite Chapman, who does reasonably well. Her love interest is Robert Paige, who was also co-producer; I rather liked him.
While this won't end up on my DVD shelf, it's well worth watching.
A widower farmer (Walter Brennan) is a bit of a bully in his own family who is moving to a new area to start a new farm. His kids can never do the things they want to because he controls what he calls "family meetings". And he is too stubborn to listen to recommendations of the local agricultural agent...and that agent falls in love with the farmer's oldest daughter. The farmer clearcuts lumber from a hilltop right near his farm, and disaster strikes twice -- first temporarily crippling him, and then with a flood which washes away much of their crops.
When I first began watching the film, I thought it was going to be something like Walter Brennan's television series "The Real McCoys". But that was a comedy, and this is no comedy. The question is -- will, or how will the family survive a stubborn and rather mean-spirited old man.
Walter Brennan is good here, although if you like that likable Walter Brennan...well, you're going to be disappointed. The main younger daughter is Natalie Wood, and she's quite impressive here. The main older daughter is Marguerite Chapman, who does reasonably well. Her love interest is Robert Paige, who was also co-producer; I rather liked him.
While this won't end up on my DVD shelf, it's well worth watching.