IMDb RATING
6.5/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
Change comes slowly to a small New Hampshire town in the early 20th century.Change comes slowly to a small New Hampshire town in the early 20th century.Change comes slowly to a small New Hampshire town in the early 20th century.
- Nominated for 6 Oscars
- 3 wins & 7 nominations total
Ruth Tobey
- Rebecca Gibbs
- (as Ruth Toby)
Arthur B. Allen
- Professor Willard
- (as Arthur Allen)
Eddie Acuff
- Storekeeper selling gasoline
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFilm debut of Martha Scott. She was not considered for the role of "Emily" at first because of her poor screen test for the role of "Melanie" in Gone with the Wind (1939), but she was chosen after much auditioning of other actresses.
- GoofsIt is mentioned that Grover's Corners is found at 42 degrees 40 minutes latitude and 70 degrees 37 minutes longitude. These coordinates are off the coast of Boston, Massachusetts in the Atlantic Ocean, not inland near the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border.
- Quotes
Mrs. Julia Hersey Gibbs: It seems to me, once in your life, before you die, you ought to see a country where they don't speak any English and they don't even want to.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Hollywood Ghost Stories (1986)
- SoundtracksArt Thou Weary, Art Thou Languid?
(1868)
Music "Stephanos" by Henry W. Baker (1868)
Greek words by Stephen of Mar Saba (Judea) (8th century)
Translated from Greek to English by John M. Neale (1862)
Played on an organ in church by Philip Wood and sung by the choir
Featured review
OUR TOWN is a timeless classic, and this 1940 film version captures the major themes from Thornton Wilder's great play.
At once simple and profound, unsentimental and heart-breaking, the story of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, and its citizens is a time capsule of early 20th Century America. Two neighboring families are examined in their everyday lives, and we especially follow George Gibbs (William Holden) and Emily Webb (Martha Scott) as they grow up and marry.
A stage convention, the Stage Manager (Frank Craven), acts here as a tour guide and talks directly to the audience and tells them the history of the town and stories about the characters. Independent of time, the Stage Manager can also see into the future and matter-of-factly see the various deaths of several characters as well as their pasts.
The scene from the cemetery is chilling yet is quite wondrous as the characters there ponder the timelessness of the universe. Also great is Emily's visit back to her family on her birthday, where she finally understand that life is made up or so many small and insignificant details that we hardly notice as times flies by.
The film boasts a terrific cast with Fay Bainter and Beulah Bondi outstanding as the mothers , Thomas Mitchell and Guy Kibbee solid as the fathers. Also notable are Doro Merande as Mrs. Soames, Arthur Allen as the professor, Philip Wood as the organist, Spencer Charters as the constable, Stu Erwin as the milkman, and Ruth Tobey as Rebecca, who gets to tell the "mind of god" anecdote.
The ending is different from the play's but works well in this version.
This is a film that badly needs restoration
At once simple and profound, unsentimental and heart-breaking, the story of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, and its citizens is a time capsule of early 20th Century America. Two neighboring families are examined in their everyday lives, and we especially follow George Gibbs (William Holden) and Emily Webb (Martha Scott) as they grow up and marry.
A stage convention, the Stage Manager (Frank Craven), acts here as a tour guide and talks directly to the audience and tells them the history of the town and stories about the characters. Independent of time, the Stage Manager can also see into the future and matter-of-factly see the various deaths of several characters as well as their pasts.
The scene from the cemetery is chilling yet is quite wondrous as the characters there ponder the timelessness of the universe. Also great is Emily's visit back to her family on her birthday, where she finally understand that life is made up or so many small and insignificant details that we hardly notice as times flies by.
The film boasts a terrific cast with Fay Bainter and Beulah Bondi outstanding as the mothers , Thomas Mitchell and Guy Kibbee solid as the fathers. Also notable are Doro Merande as Mrs. Soames, Arthur Allen as the professor, Philip Wood as the organist, Spencer Charters as the constable, Stu Erwin as the milkman, and Ruth Tobey as Rebecca, who gets to tell the "mind of god" anecdote.
The ending is different from the play's but works well in this version.
This is a film that badly needs restoration
Details
- Runtime1 hour 30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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