hyped garbage

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

I found the novel Spencers' Mountain in a gas station book rack in 1973 when I was a 14 year old coming of age. The novels main character,unlike the movie,was Clay boy, the son who was a few years older than I was in real life, so I really related to him and loved the book that was a loose memoir of Earl Hamner Jr.s childhood growing up in the hard depression era Virginia Appalachian mining country. The book was told from Clay boys' view point, and He was the narrator of the story. Most of the stories in the movie were in the book but the focus was shifted to the father, Clay, because it had become a vehicle for it's star, Henry Fonda.I didn't see this film till sometime in the 1980's and at first I was greatly disappointed by this change in the stories emphasis. I have now come to enjoy the film for it's own merits, especially the beautifully photographed Teton mountains. In real life Earl Hamner didn't get to go to college till after WWII, on the GI bill. As usual the book is much better than the movie and I even named my second son Clay.

Quarry employee Henry Fonda, living on a cows-and-chickens estate in Wyoming with his wife and nine children, works on building the couple's dream home in the hills while also trying to get his book-learnin' eldest son into college. Sudsy adaptation of Earl Hamner Jr.'s thinly-disguised memoir, which led in due course to TV's "The Waltons", is full of now-familiar elements: the whiskey-sippin' grandpa, the gaggle of young 'uns who bathe together in one tub, the fiery-tempered Mrs. (Maureen O'Hara, giving us nothing new) who asks her husband to work overtime so she can buy her son a graduation ring, the funeral which brings all the scattered relatives together. Given a pictorial sheen by writer-director Delmer Daves and his team of cinematographers, this location-rich drama is so well-intentioned that it becomes rather turgid. James MacArthur seems a tad mature to be just coming-of-age and noticing girls, though Daves feasts on his creamy skin and masculinity--the only instance where the director gets some sensuality going (it sure isn't there between the adults). "The Waltons" usually managed to add a dash of vinegar to its mix of homilies and cracker-barrel wisdom; here, when papa Fonda explains sex to son MacArthur by saying, "Just remember, you ain't no bull and she ain't no cow," the incredulous will not be won over. ** from ****

It was interesting reading the other reviews of this film. Clearly, some viewers have forgotten what life was like in 1950s in rural America. No, there's nothing controversial in this film, and I think that's why some see it as a white-wash. But I knew people in my hometown that were just about like these folks. In fact, as I sat watching this film, I kept thinking that the portrayals here were "real". It's a simple story, really, although so simple that one of our reviewers couldn't grasp it -- the story of a poor boy struggling to get to college at a time when not virtually everyone went to college. As the first boy in my very large extended family to go to college, I can understand this. This is real life...not dramatic life. The performances by Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara are superb, James MacArthur is excellent, and it's nice to see revered character actor Donald Crisp is what was his last film role, although he lived for another decade. As to the criticism that the other roles were not as well developed here as in "The Waltons", this is a 2 hour movie, not a 9 year television series! And to top everything off, the frosting on the cake is the snow-capped Grand Tetons where the movie was filmed. Absolutely top notch all the way.Additionally, it was nice seeing Wally Cox is a more substantial role than we usually see him in.This film was directed by Delmer Daves. Daves had an interesting directorial career, particularly in regard to his move to more teen-romantic films in the 1960s. This film is not that, although there is an element of it within the plot.This is top notch entertainment, and frankly, I have a hard time thinking of a film where Henry Fonda so masterfully portrayed a character...and that's saying a lot!

So sappy one's brain cells become glued together! Much worse than it's progeny "The Waltons" (which did have some decent episodes). This tale of lovable, yet curmudgeonly and occasionally drunk Henry Fonda as the father of a poor but happy family living in a company mining town, is less believable than any fairy tale. It's only cinematic competition is "The Human Comedy". At least that one was absurd enough to be quite funny in spots, but this film has no edge of any kind."Spencer's Mountain" purports to portray a slice of Americana that never existed. This company town is a peaceful little community where no one grumbles about the high prices and enslaving credit rates of the company store. The mine president is just tickled pink about the romance between his daughter and miner Fonda's son, and their possible "union" is the only one either dad seems concerned about. The State University cheerfully accepts walk-in applicants and has plenty of full scholarships for the asking.This film is more than a waste of time. I found it's flaccid, phony whimsy a true insult to my intelligence. One of the all time worst!!