Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

This is a Very good movie. Yes, it's formulaic but with surprises and treats to hold your interest. I laughed out loud several times and got misty eyed a couple of others. The Romance of Rosy Ridge is set in southern Missouri, one of the most evenly divided parts of the country, in the summer after the War Between the States, In this town, 23 families were on each side. The depiction of life in that era, with colloquialisms and period references is fun to observe. The battle of Pea Ridge is mentioned, although southerners call it Elkhorn Tavern. They talk of moving to "the territories", evidently Kansas and Nebraska. Home life, transportation, and farm tools are demonstrated in passing. Van Johnson's character arrives and sets about healing the violent and very partisan rift between the Yanks and Rebs. His breeziness is refreshing, yet he has quite serious moments, also sings. Janet Leigh in her screen debut is stunning; even her mother remarks, "that's a lot of woman trying to fit into that dress." Thomas Mitchell is accurate as a staunch Reb and an old-school head of household. He was Scarlett's father in Gone With the Wind. Also in the cast is Jim Davis, the one and only Jock Ewing. Several other recognizable actors perform well. One hilarious scene has Elisabeth Risdon wearing out her storekeeper husband, Guy Kibbee, about his idea of a dance to bring the townspeople together. She finally says, "this will be a terrible night and you'll be remembering it for the rest of your life." In true Fred Mertz style, he replies, "at least for the rest of Your life."

Made 8 years later, you would swear at the film's beginning that Thomas Mitchell is spouting his words in a black and white version of the 1939 classic "Gone With the Wind."Surprisingly, there is little violence in this film dealing with 4 months after the civil war ended in Missouri. In the latter state, northern fighters for the state in the war are accused of burning the homes of those who fought and sympathized with the south. That in itself would be enough for violence. Later on, we learn that the old movie rascal, Charles Dingle, has been stirring up trouble between the groups for land speculation purposes.A drifter, well played by Van Johnson, drifts into the town and goes to work for a suspicious Mitchell, a true southerner during the war. Despite his hard work on the farm, Mitchell is suspicious of him as he doesn't know where his sympathies were during the conflict.The Mitchell Family anxiously awaits the return of their son from the war. Johnson thinks of a way to unite the people, and the former teacher eventually comes to fight the Dingle people.This was Janet Leigh's first film as Mitchell's daughter and she conveys quite well the young woman with aspirations of her home. Selena Royle is the determined mother.

Former MGM queen Norma Shearer was vacationing in the Sierras in California and at a ski lodge took notice of the owner's beautiful daughter. She thought that she ought to be in pictures and got her old friends at MGM to give her a look over. They did and signed the girl to a contract and Janet Leigh made her debut in The Romance of Rosy Ridge.During the Civil War both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis spent a lot of time worrying about the fate of those border states like Missouri where this story takes place. There was considerable public opinion for both sides and a lot of neighbors fought each other. Into one Missouri town comes stranger Van Johnson and helps out a Confederate family which lost a son, Marshall Thompson, during the Civil War. Father Thomas Mitchell is suspicious, but his wife Selena Royle and children Dean Stockwell and Janet Leigh take to Johnson right off.Of course Johnson takes to Leigh right off as well. The people of the area can't seem to reconcile because a whole lot of bad things keep happening and only to Confederate families. Someone has a vested interest in keeping the Civil War going long after Appomattox. I won't say any more about the plot, but film fans will take one look at the cast and know who's responsible for all the bad things. But also a secret about son Marshall Thompson is revealed before all are reconciled.The Romance of Rosy Ridge was an auspicious debut for Janet Leigh. You could easily tell what Norma Shearer saw when she served as talent scout for her former studio. Van Johnson gives Janet a lot of support here, very generously allowing her to gain maximum exposure, he seems to have made an effort not to steal any scenes. Van and Janet have a good cast of supporting players as well.The film has a kind of nostalgic quality like some of John Ford's work. It might have really been a classic had Ford been the director. It's still pretty good as is.

I loved the emphasis on community values in this film. The ideas that the main character pulls for are not a whit outdated and can certainly be applied to today's society. It seems that in life, as in this film, there is always an element who tries to pull apart the community spirit for their own ends. These ideas are presented here in a completely engaging manner and are there for all to see as simple common sense. Kudos to Thomas Mitchell for another grand performance. Too bad this is another forgotten film which should be resurrected for its ideas which are strangely hip and contemporary. And Janet Leigh does a wonderful job, as does the actress who plays her mother.