Spencer's Mountain (DVD)

Despite the stellar cast, this is not a great movie. It's based on the book "Spencer's Mountain", by Earl Hamner Jr., who went on to create the hit TV series "Walton's Mountain". Having become a fan of the TV show, I purchased the movie and was deeply disappointed. The movie lacks the family dynamics--not to mention the story-line and memorable characters--that so distinguished the TV series. The similarities linking the movie and TV series are faint. Both involve a family living in mountain country, and both feature an ambitious, talented son--and that's about it. James MacArthur is a fine actor certainly, as are Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara, but they don't have much of script to sink their teeth into. In the end the movie is about as substantial as eating a bag of popcorn. When you've finished, you're still hungering for something more. Without question, the best part of the movie is the setting--the positively stunning Grand Teton Mountains of Wyoming. That said, don't waste your money; buy the "Walton's" TV series on DVD instead, and you'll be satisfied indeed.

I doubt that many will remember this movie or have even heard of it. For me it was a special film that my grandmother loved and we'd watch together. For that reason I decided to purchase it and see if it stood the test of time. I was delighted to see that it did.If you've ever watched the TV series THE WALTONS then you'll know part of the story. This movie was based on the book by Earl Hamner which also inspired that TV series. It tells the story of young Clay Spencer, a teen about to graduate from college who has the desire to learn more. Not only does he have that desire but his parents (Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara) also want to see him get the education. Fonda has no desire to watch his son toil away in the quarry where he has all these years.Not only do we get to see Clay and learn of his desires we get to see the entire Spencer clan as well. Clay has numerous brothers and sisters as does his father. His father's brothers go so far as to help him in building the dream house he has always promised his wife.This movie is all about family and sticking together. It's a movie that will touch your heart and your soul. There are some tragic moments in the film that have stuck with me since seeing it as a child. They still tug at my heart now.This is a movie that should be on more than a few select shelves. At the price being asked for it you have little or nothing to lose but so much to gain.

I watched this with my mom in law...haven't seen ti since I was a young kid back in the 60's. It is a gentle family story that Walt Disney would have come up with if he wanted to. Henry Fonda is outstanding is a father of a large family who has a dream of building his wife their own house high atop a beautiful mountain. Based upon Earl Hamner's (the Walton's creator)growing up years, the nature views are stunning. I won't give away the ending, but suffice it to say, sometimes what we dream of and what life gives us--are what makes us mature and accept our responsibilities.

A very nice Blu Ray edition. Delmer Dave's films have always been one of my guilty pleasures. He was an accomplished film maker who preferred appealing to the broad unwashed masses with emotion, like here in Spencers Mountain, with romance as in Rome Adventure and Parrish or rocking mid century American mores with films like Susan Slade or A Summer Place.Spencers Mountain was perfect for Daves. And it is a 'great American movie'.Note the early token racial integration featuring Barbara McNair's tounching rendition of the national anthem at a graduation.

I've been doing a study of the Great Depression. As part of my study, when I'm tired of reading, I've enjoyed watching the old series, The Walton's.Spencer's Mountain was the movie before the series. It brings the Great Depression to life right in front of your eyes.You can't go wrong with Maureen O'Hara in a movie. She portrayed the mom from a different angle. She was just as protective, ever so loving, and with a little bit of sadness borne from having to survive during those tough times. She also still showed that passionate, spicy attitude and energy level that Maureen O'Hara made famous in so many other favorite movies of mine. Nobody can do that better! She was more fearful here as a mom. She was the loving and faithful wife of a man who drank too much, cussed, and was generally passionately overbearing. She wanted to protect her children from being disappointed by refusing to let them try. She believed they would fail and get hurt, so she at times discouraged them from trying to succeed. This one is a little more suggestive and only slightly less wholesome than the Walton series, but not much. Fans of Henry Fonda will enjoy watching him drunk throughout much of the movie. His language is peppered with creative word choices. However, he comes through with a strong defense of his family in some surprising ways, in spite of his faults. James MacArthur does a great job as the oldest son in the family.Grandma and Grandpa are quite different from the series. Grandpa didn't show that fun side that we're all used to from the Waltons. I felt it was there, but we didn't have time to explore it. We briefly got to see the other sons of Grandma and Grandpa as well. There was that dream of a home on the mountain, but I won't reveal how that one turns out in this movie.I truly enjoyed watching Spencer's Mountain. It was a realistic view of family life during the Great Depression. I recommend it highly.

Anything with Maureen O'Hara and Henry Fonda gets my vote. It really is a gem of a film. I stumbled across it one Saturday afternoon and was surprised after being an avid fan of The Walton's that I had not seen this film before. I think it mirrors Earl Hamner's childhood (as does the Walton's), large family in America trying to make ends meet whilst trying to send their eldest son to college. If I had to be in any way critical it would be that nobody in my opinion with 7 kids could look so fresh faced as Maureen O'Hara and there is one line when she says in her broad Irish accent that she was born and bred on Spencer's Mountain which is not quite believable. I like Henry Fonda and his chemistry with Maureen O'Hara is great.

Very good movie, not too action packed but great outdoor scenery. Recommended.

Henry Fonda at his best. Good all round family film over looked by many

a good story with the right actors a good time passing i liked it when i saw this movie when it was played in the cinema some years ago and now i saw it again and i must say it has not lost nothing it still is as good as then and now i can see it over and over again

Excellent