This beautifully adapted film of Jessamyn West's novel is a treasure that I'm sure I'll watch again and again.
The story of a Quaker family caught between their religious principals and the reality of the Civil War is both charming and compelling. Gary Cooper breaks out of his usual roles as the father, Jess Birdwell, who isn't adverse to a bit of fun despite his strict Quaker beliefs, and Dorothy McGuire is perfectly cast as his somewhat fretful but tender minister wife. Phyllis Love is captivating as their romantic teenage daughter, and Anthony Perkins, later unfortunately typecast in some rather oddball roles, puts in a splendid performance as their son Joshua, who is morally torn between his pacifist beliefs and his feeling of duty to protect his family from the invading southern army.
While the backdrop of the story is the rural north and the horrible conflict of the Civil War and how the Birdwell family deals with it, there are so many warm and charming snapshots of family life and the love they have for one another. Plus the score by Dimitri Tiomkin is haunting and sweet and perfectly underscores the feeling of the movie.
I missed this one as a child and I'm so glad that I got to see it at last! P.S. Marjorie Main is cast as a widow woman who is the mother of three rather aggressive daughters who haven't seen a man in far too long! She has great chemistry with Cooper, who seems about to crack up during their screen time together. This is one of the cute little sidebars to this film.
The story of a Quaker family caught between their religious principals and the reality of the Civil War is both charming and compelling. Gary Cooper breaks out of his usual roles as the father, Jess Birdwell, who isn't adverse to a bit of fun despite his strict Quaker beliefs, and Dorothy McGuire is perfectly cast as his somewhat fretful but tender minister wife. Phyllis Love is captivating as their romantic teenage daughter, and Anthony Perkins, later unfortunately typecast in some rather oddball roles, puts in a splendid performance as their son Joshua, who is morally torn between his pacifist beliefs and his feeling of duty to protect his family from the invading southern army.
While the backdrop of the story is the rural north and the horrible conflict of the Civil War and how the Birdwell family deals with it, there are so many warm and charming snapshots of family life and the love they have for one another. Plus the score by Dimitri Tiomkin is haunting and sweet and perfectly underscores the feeling of the movie.
I missed this one as a child and I'm so glad that I got to see it at last! P.S. Marjorie Main is cast as a widow woman who is the mother of three rather aggressive daughters who haven't seen a man in far too long! She has great chemistry with Cooper, who seems about to crack up during their screen time together. This is one of the cute little sidebars to this film.