Gentle Annie
The Goss family live on a farm they call the dust bowl where the wind blows during the day and the coyotes howl at night. When the train is robbed, everyone thinks that Cotton and Violet were the ones that did the job, but no one has any proof. US Marshal Lloyd Richland comes into town in disguise to find the truth and he finds that the sheriff is corrupt and that the Goss family is gosh darn nice. They take in Richland and a stranded woman named Mary without any questions. Cotton believes that Sheriff Tatum shot their pa in the back, and the sheriff is now trying to plug the boys. Richland is looking for the train robbers, and at the same time is keeping an eye on Tatum and the lovely young Mary.
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- Cast:
- James Craig , Donna Reed , Marjorie Main , Harry Morgan , Paul Langton , Barton MacLane , Morris Ankrum
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Reviews
Good , But It Is Overrated By Some
It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.
It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows
Copyright 1944 by Loew's Inc. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture. New York opening: 4 May 1945. Official release date: 20 December 1944. 80 minutes. SYNOPSIS: On the trail of a train hold-up gang, an investigator (James Craig) finds himself caught in the middle of a feud between the matriarch of a pioneer family (Marjorie Main) and a crooked sheriff (Barton MacLane). Matters are further complicated when he falls in love with a former employee of the sheriff (Donna Reed) who has sought refuge with the family he suspects is behind the robbery. NOTES: W.S. Van Dyke was originally assigned to the movie but fell ill and was replaced by newly signed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contractee Andrew Marton (who had previously directed movies in Germany and England). It turned out to be Van Dyke's final fling behind the camera. He died on 5 February 1943. This movie was also one of the last film appearances of Noah Beery (senior) who has a small, unimportant role as a skinflint storekeeper.COMMENT:: An appealing little western, despite a hammy performance from Marjorie Main and the lumpish presence of James Craig. After a very lively action start, the movie goes backwards with a long and boring long-take monologue from Miss Main (doubtless Van Dyke's contribution), but then proceeds to make up for lost ground with the introduction of the agreeable duo, Henry "Harry" Morgan and Paul Langton. The talent line-up is soon completed by delightfully villainous Barton MacLane and his equally enjoyable thick-head heavy, Morris Ankrum. And then when Donna Reed hits her stride and gifted (if little- known) character actor, John Philliber, is thrust center-stage, we are truly in "B"-movie heaven. The hero's dilemma seems real enough as we plunge steadily towards the expected full-action climax with its clever resolution that anticipates several later films made with bigger budgets and lots more publicity. Director Andrew Marton not only keeps the action flowing fast, but fills the screen with movement. I am surprised that this effort didn't bring him to the immediate notice of studio executives. His talent seems to have been under-utilized by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, despite his later employment (with billing) as a second unit director on "King Solomon's Mines" and "Ben Hur".
Marjorie Main brings her Ma Kettle characterization to this film about a southern woman who settles in the west with her two sons after the Civil War. However her two sons in Gentle Annie, in this case Harry Morgan and Paul Langton, are more like the James Brothers than the rustic Kettle clan.The story line of Gentle Annie is similar to the 20th Century Fox film Jesse James with Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda. In fact since this took place well after the Civil War, the Goss brothers could easily have taken the James boys as role models. Morgan and Langton are outlaws who ostensibly are just trying to earn enough money to get back to the old homestead in Missouri, they never can get quite enough though. Main's wish is enough to justify a criminal career.James Craig plays the marshal out to get the folks who are doing the robbing. And since they're robbing trains with the US mail that makes it a federal offense and Craig's jurisdiction. Craig's undercover however and sets his sights on Main's kids and works his way into their confidence. He has to because the local law enforcement is as corrupt as it gets under sheriff Barton MacLane. MacLane's a northerner who doesn't like the ex-rebel Goss family on general principles.Donna Reed plays a stranded woman who the Gosses take in and who Craig falls for. All in all Gentle Annie is a nicely done B western from MGM, a studio that normally didn't put out that kind of product.
This movie is in the same category as 'The Big Country', But not in the same league. 'Big Country', is one of the best movies ever for getting good messages across to the audience. 'Gentle Annie' does the same thing and also in an entertaining way that doesn't insult your intelligence. Worth seeing again. Stellar performances by Donna Reed and Marjorie Main.
This is a great drama, that just happens to be a western. Craig is the marshal that must decide whether he should arrest the family that has treated him so well. This is yet another grand story from the pen of MacKinlay Kantor (Outlaw Territory, 1953/Gun Crazy, 1950). Each character is carefully developed, and, by the climax we really feel the injustice of 'the system.' Morgan shows once again, that earlier in his career he was Oscar material. Keep the kleenex handy, if you can find this one on video or TV you'll need them.