First, I would like to note the striking similarities of the plot of this film with that of the later "The Big Country" western. Both dealt with a running feud between two extended families, involving illiterate backwoodsmen near the border of VA and KY in the present film, and two cattle-ranching families in the Wild West in the other film. Although not hinted in either film(probably to avoid offending significant portions of audiences), one of the families had an Irish-derived name, while the other had an English or Scottish-derived name, suggesting that ethnic and religious bigotry was the root of their traditional hatred for each other. In each film, the story dealt mainly with the non-Irish family, while the Irish family is characterized as the more uncouth. The English or Scottish family is the recipient of an enlightened outsider, who becomes romantically involved with the most eligible daughter of the clan. The outsider finally forces the feuding families to cooperate to some degree(over water rights in one case, and over building a railway to carry out coal in the present case), and to end their vendetta cultures, but not until after further bloodshed instigated by the outsider's presence.
A young Henry Fonda plays the tragic Dave Toliver who, near the beginning of the film, is laying down with a Falin bullet in his shoulder and ends the film laying down with another Falin bullet or two in him.Through most of the film, he represents a young generation of hotheads who want to continue their life of backwoods primitiveness and clan feuding. In contrast, coal mining engineer Jack Hale(Fred MacMurray) represents the enlightened outside world. He wants to open coal mines and build a railroad to take it out on lands of both clans, requiring the grudging cooperation of the clans. At first, most don't like it, but eventually both families sign an agreement, despite the continued disapproval of some. Meanwhile, Hale interests Dave's cute girlfriend, June Toliver(Sylvia Sydney) in getting an education in far off Louisville. Clearly, she is gradually warming up to him as a possible alternative to Dave. Also, her much younger brother Buddie(Spanky MacFarland) is much interested in the machinery involved in building the railway and announces he wants to become an engineer. Tragically, someone(presumably a Falin) blows up the steam shovel he is playing on. Was this meant as sabotage?, murder? or both? Everyone emphasizes the murder aspect, which leads to a new round of threats and shootings. Hale feels indirectly responsible. He, Dave and a devastated June vacillate as to whether to go shoot some Falins in retaliation. The elderly sheriff of the nearby village of Gaptown, and Melissa(Beulah Bondi), Daves mother, voice their strong advice that the young folk not go hunting Falins to shoot. The dramatic last 15 minutes of the film brings some resolution to the major plot conflicts, but I was disappointed with the finale scene.
Strangely, despite occasional songs sung by the eccentric Tater(Fuzzy Knight), the established song "Trail of the Lonesome Pine", is barely included, as one of several background pieces in the opening credits. The lyrics begin 'In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia'. Well, the story location, as well as the officially designated Trail of the Lonesome Pine, are quite west of the actual Blue Ridge Mountains, which form the eastern-most significant mountain range along the southern Appalachians. There's no coal in those mountains. Their rocks are geologically much more related to those of the Piedmont, to the east, than to the sedimentary rocks found on the Appalachian Plateau, where this story takes place, as well as those in the intervening Valley and Ridge geographical region.Evidently, the lyricist for this song was ignorant of or didn't care about the actual geographic regions of SW Virginia! Thus, the song in the film "When it's Twilight on the Trail" is perhaps a more appropriate theme song.
You may find the attitude of the Gaptown sheriff toward the killings and sabotage disturbing. Along with Melissa, he felt that attempts to retaliate against the Falins for Buddie's death by killing them or arrests would merely provoke more violence. This is an age-old problem, with no simple answer than works out well in all situations. It is still quite relevant in the US today, to say nothing of the rest of the world, especially as relates to organized criminal gangs, domestic disputes and violence, and to growing and trafficking illegal drugs. Unfortunately, governments don't recognize private wars as being legally equivalent to wars waged by governments. Thus, killers and avengers are treated alike as murderers, not as heroes or victims. Our prisons are filled with criminal gang members who continue their wars there. The sheriff clearly didn't agree with this policy.
A gorgeous Paramount Technicolor production, reportedly the first three-strip outdoor Technicolor film.
A young Henry Fonda plays the tragic Dave Toliver who, near the beginning of the film, is laying down with a Falin bullet in his shoulder and ends the film laying down with another Falin bullet or two in him.Through most of the film, he represents a young generation of hotheads who want to continue their life of backwoods primitiveness and clan feuding. In contrast, coal mining engineer Jack Hale(Fred MacMurray) represents the enlightened outside world. He wants to open coal mines and build a railroad to take it out on lands of both clans, requiring the grudging cooperation of the clans. At first, most don't like it, but eventually both families sign an agreement, despite the continued disapproval of some. Meanwhile, Hale interests Dave's cute girlfriend, June Toliver(Sylvia Sydney) in getting an education in far off Louisville. Clearly, she is gradually warming up to him as a possible alternative to Dave. Also, her much younger brother Buddie(Spanky MacFarland) is much interested in the machinery involved in building the railway and announces he wants to become an engineer. Tragically, someone(presumably a Falin) blows up the steam shovel he is playing on. Was this meant as sabotage?, murder? or both? Everyone emphasizes the murder aspect, which leads to a new round of threats and shootings. Hale feels indirectly responsible. He, Dave and a devastated June vacillate as to whether to go shoot some Falins in retaliation. The elderly sheriff of the nearby village of Gaptown, and Melissa(Beulah Bondi), Daves mother, voice their strong advice that the young folk not go hunting Falins to shoot. The dramatic last 15 minutes of the film brings some resolution to the major plot conflicts, but I was disappointed with the finale scene.
Strangely, despite occasional songs sung by the eccentric Tater(Fuzzy Knight), the established song "Trail of the Lonesome Pine", is barely included, as one of several background pieces in the opening credits. The lyrics begin 'In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia'. Well, the story location, as well as the officially designated Trail of the Lonesome Pine, are quite west of the actual Blue Ridge Mountains, which form the eastern-most significant mountain range along the southern Appalachians. There's no coal in those mountains. Their rocks are geologically much more related to those of the Piedmont, to the east, than to the sedimentary rocks found on the Appalachian Plateau, where this story takes place, as well as those in the intervening Valley and Ridge geographical region.Evidently, the lyricist for this song was ignorant of or didn't care about the actual geographic regions of SW Virginia! Thus, the song in the film "When it's Twilight on the Trail" is perhaps a more appropriate theme song.
You may find the attitude of the Gaptown sheriff toward the killings and sabotage disturbing. Along with Melissa, he felt that attempts to retaliate against the Falins for Buddie's death by killing them or arrests would merely provoke more violence. This is an age-old problem, with no simple answer than works out well in all situations. It is still quite relevant in the US today, to say nothing of the rest of the world, especially as relates to organized criminal gangs, domestic disputes and violence, and to growing and trafficking illegal drugs. Unfortunately, governments don't recognize private wars as being legally equivalent to wars waged by governments. Thus, killers and avengers are treated alike as murderers, not as heroes or victims. Our prisons are filled with criminal gang members who continue their wars there. The sheriff clearly didn't agree with this policy.
A gorgeous Paramount Technicolor production, reportedly the first three-strip outdoor Technicolor film.