SPENCER'S MOUNTAIN

DIRECTED, PRODUCED AND WRITTEN BY DELMER DAVES
MUSIC BY MAX STEINER
WARNER BROS. PICTURES

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/2a240ccb.jpg..http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/742f9227.jpg

Information from IMDb

Plot Summary
As the patriarch of a large and growing family, Clay Spencer (Henry Fonda)
is fiercely independent, yet dedicated to his family.
While he resists the influence of religion, he struggles to remain faithful to his wife
Olivia (Maureen O'Hara), allow his son (James MacArthur) to attend college,
and build a new home for his family.
The film centers on the trials and tribulations of the Spencers,
a frontier family living in the Grand Teton Mountains of Wyoming.

Full Cast
Henry Fonda .... Clay Spencer
Maureen O'Hara .... Olivia Spencer
James MacArthur .... Clayboy Spencer
Donald Crisp .... Grandpa Spencer
Wally Cox .... Preacher Goodman
Mimsy Farmer .... Claris Coleman
Virginia Gregg .... Miss Parker
Lillian Bronson .... Grandma Spencer
Whit Bissell .... Dr. Campbell
Hayden Rorke .... Colonel Coleman
Kathy Bennett .... Minnie-Cora Cook
Dub Taylor .... Percy Cook
Hope Summers .... Mother Ida
Ken Mayer .... Mr. John
Bronwyn FitzSimons .... College Secretary
Barbara McNair .... Graduation Singer
Larry D. Mann .... Spencer Brother
Robert 'Buzz' Henry .... Spencer Brother
James O'Hara .... Spencer Brother (as Jim O'Hara)
Victor French .... Spencer Brother
Michael Greene .... Spencer Brother
Med Flory .... Spencer Brother
Ray Savage .... Spencer Brother
Mike Henry .... Spencer Brother
Gary Young .... Mat Spencer
Michael Young .... Mark Spencer
Veronica Cartwright .... Becky Spencer
Ricky Young .... Luke Spencer
Susan Young .... Shirley Spencer
Rocky Young .... John Spencer
Kym Karath .... Pattie-Cake Spencer
Michele Daves .... Donnie Spencer
William Breen .... Mountain Main
Rory Mallinson

Writing Credits
Delmer Daves
Earl Hamner Jr. novel

Cinematography
Charles Lawton Jr.

Trivia
Average Shot Length = ~6.8 seconds. Median Shot Length = ~6.6 seconds.

Final film of Donald Crisp.

Maureen O'Hara's real-life daughter, Bronwyn FitzSimons, plays the part of the college dean's secretary.

According to a Henry Fonda interview seen on the DVD version of this movie, many locals of Jackson Hole, Wyoming were used as extras for scenes in the movie, such as the graduation of Clayboy.

Director Delmer Daves' granddaughter, Michele Daves, made her only film appearance to date in this movie, appearing as the youngest Spencer child, baby Donnie.

Barbara McNair's film debut.

In their book "How Underdog Was Born...", W. Watts Biggers and Chad Strover reveal that seeing Wally Cox's performance in this movie inspired them to ask him to voice their newly created character, Underdog.

Goofs
Continuity: In the scene where Clay is milking the cow, "Chance," she is first seen without a halter, then with one in the next shot, then again moments later without it.

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Grandma Spencer is reading her husband's will, her voice is out of sync with her movements.

Revealing mistakes: When the new house is burning in the final scenes, you can see the pipes for the fuel that ignites the fire.

Revealing mistakes: When Clay Sr. breaks his leg, there is no blood on his pant leg despite Clay Jr. mentioning that the leg bone had broken through the skin.

Memorable Quotes (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057523/quotes)

Filming Locations
California, USA
Grand Teton National Park, Moose, Wyoming, USA
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County - 900 Exposition Boulevard, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, USA
(Clay Sr drives to talk to the dean)
Raymond, California, USA

Spencer's Mountain is a 1963 family film
written, directed, and produced by Delmer Daves
from a novel by Earl Hamner, Jr.
The novel and film became the basis for the popular television series The Waltons,
which followed in 1972. Differing from both the film and novel,
The Waltons watered down many of the adult themes,
including alcoholism and infidelity.
Spencer's Mountain features the majestic scenery of
Wyoming's Grand Teton mountain range, as photographed by
cinematographer Charles Lawton in CinemaScope.
The novel and the series were set in the Virginia Appalachians,
but Hamner said in 1963 that Daves wanted more imposing
mountains to emphasize the characters' isolation
and struggles with their environment.

From the comments below, it's also obvious,
that this is an ordinary, sort of film
really held together, by the acting skills,
of Henry Fonda and Maureen.

User Reviews


Spencer's Mountain is a 1963 family film written, directed, and produced by Delmer Daves from a novel by Earl Hamner. The novel and film became the basis for the popular television series The Waltons, which followed in 1972. Differing from both the film and novel, The Waltons watered down many of the adult themes, including alcoholism and infidelity. Spencer's Mountain features the majestic scenery of Wyoming's Grand Teton mountain range, as photographed by cinematographer Charles Lawton in CinemaScope.

Author: planktonrules from Bradenton, Florida

[My above comment is alluding to the overall blandness of the film. It isn't a BAD film, but it seems a bit too gosh-darn happy and perfect and unremarkable--sort of like the Stepford Wives meet The Waltons (the latter was the obvious movie version of Spencer's Mountain). And because of that it's so inoffensive and ordinary that I have no desire to see it again. The sad thing is the acting was pretty good (it's hard to go wrong with Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara) but the story just wasn't compelling. Overall, it's a time passer and that's about all. About the only thing that is interesting is watching a younger Jame McArthur ("Danno" from Hawaii 5-0--also the son of Helen Hayes) playing the role later played by Richard Thomas.

I liked this movie because of the family aspect. Maureen was so great and beautiful in this picture. She was powerful in trying to keep the family together, and give them the things that would improve their lives.

In a way, this family reminds me of Chester and the Mrs. Very down to earth, good church going people, family strengths, and a lot of children. Oh, I know that Chester and the Mrs. has grandchildren, but they seem to be like their children.

Anyway, this is a tribute to the American spirit of what is good.

Cheers :cool:

Originally posted by Hondo Duke Lane@Nov 12 2006, 07:11 AM
In a way, this family reminds me of Chester and the Mrs.* Very down to earth, good church going people, family strengths, and a lot of children.* Oh, I know that Chester and the Mrs. has grandchildren, but they seem to be like their children.

Anyway, this is a tribute to the American spirit of what is good.
36882
Aw, shucks, Hondo :wub: !

Chester :newyear: and the Mrs. :angel1:

:wink_smile:

Shot in 1962 (not in 1953) in Wyoming, this family drama was a great success. Maureen found Henry Fonda with pleasure, this major player, talented, strong, classy and nice ...

a small video (http://www.archive-host.com/video.php?id=5b6584a48a3e1bb923429050410e79239cb84 591.mp4)

and the Original trailer (http://www.archive-host.com/video.php?id=6a927a2cf73bad4e0852d4879d490c5ceae5f a5a.mp4)

Good reading

:wink_smile:

............................................. The pictures from the film .................................................. .

http://www.archive-host.com/link/27ecbfaba529baf2f47de537b6c940d8189a561b.jpg


http://www.archive-host.com/link/ad09e6615c5a6a5f0ee82f0f2af67eb02b321fff.jpg


http://www.archive-host.com/link/b22c8c7912a6e1386ca64df9e7d50f40e8fb9119.jpg


http://www.archive-host.com/link/bb26494064f654e3cb9ebccb016989d92b9cee23.jpg

:wink_smile:

With key actors, Maureen, Henry Fonda, James MacArthur, Mimsy Farmer ... we find Maureen and daughter Bronwyn, met for the only time in a movie.

May 31st 1963 (http://www.archive-host.com/video.php?id=7b0cab44b81b2469e6b857a595a087c320aea bb8.mp4)

Author: planktonrules from Bradenton, Florida
[My above comment is alluding to the overall blandness of the film. It isn't a BAD film, but it seems a bit too gosh-darn happy and perfect and unremarkable--sort of like the Stepford Wives meet The Waltons (the latter was the obvious movie version of Spencer's Mountain). And because of that it's so inoffensive and ordinary that I have no desire to see it again. The sad thing is the acting was pretty good (it's hard to go wrong with Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara) but the story just wasn't compelling. Overall, it's a time passer and that's about all. About the only thing that is interesting is watching a younger Jame McArthur ("Danno" from Hawaii 5-0--also the son of Helen Hayes) playing the role later played by Richard Thomas.

I wouldn't listen to a person like this. This is a fine movie with average, normal people in it. Raising good kids and taking good care of them. They don't have much money, but they live good. When Clayboy wants to go to college, they find a way to help him, which is a sacrifice, they all sacrifice. Then Clayboy can help the next kid and so on. The Grandpa dies, the
fine actor from many movies, Donald Crisp,including "How Green was my Valley."Donald's last movie. All the acting is good.
What does the reviewer want, Lyin,Cheatin,Stealin- like many of the current movies? A fine movie to enjoy. I saw it when it came out in 1963, why not edit that correction ethan. I recently watched it on TV, in the last 3-5 months.
We went to Jackson and the Tetons last year, 2012. It was breathtaking the first time we drove north out of Jackson and got to where the Tetons were, just beautiful. We ordered the movie yesterday so we can watch it again.