Friendly Persuasion (1956)

Director:

William Wyler

Writer (WGA):

Jessamyn West (book)

Release Date:

25 November 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Western

Tagline:

Try FRIENDLY PERSUASION: It's Powerful!

Plot:

The story of a family of Quakers in Indiana in 1862. Their religous sect is strongly opposed to violence and war...

Plot Keywords:

Crisis Of Conscience | Rebel | Religion | Father Son Relationship | Home Guard

Awards:

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Gary Cooper	...	Jess Birdwell
Dorothy McGuire	...	Eliza Birdwell
Anthony Perkins	...	Josh Birdwell
Richard Eyer	...	Little Jess
Robert Middleton	...	Sam Jordan
Phyllis Love	...	Martha 'Mattie' True Birdwell
Peter Mark Richman	...	Gardner 'Gard' Jordan (as Mark Richman)
Walter Catlett	...	Prof. Waldo Quigley
Richard Hale	...	Purdy (violent Quaker)
Joel Fluellen	...	Enoch (black hired hand)
Theodore Newton	...	Maj. Harvey (recruiter in meetinig)
John Smith	...	Caleb Cope (wrestling Quaker)
Edna Skinner	...	Opal Hudspeth
Marjorie Durant	...	Pearl Hudspeth (pipe-smoking woodcutter in braids)
Frances Farwell	...	Ruby Hudspeth

Runtime:

137 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe) (as De Luxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Norway:12 | Canada:G (video rating) | UK:U | USA:Approved (certificate #17955) | Australia:G | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Bidwell Park - Manzanita Avenue, Chico, California, USA

Company:

Allied Artists Pictures

Trivia:

The official name of the Quaker religion is Society of Friends. Members of the faith are called Friends and nicknamed Quakers. The book is called "The Friendly Persuasion", meaning the faith. The film is simply called "Friendly Persuasion," which more specifically refers to the Quakers' way of communicating.

Quotes:

Josh Birdwell: I don't want to die. I don't think I could kill anyone if I tried. But I have to try, so long as other people have to.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Newhart: Unfriendly Persuasion (#5.17)" (1987)

Soundtrack:

Coax Me A Little

Quite Satisfying, With Thoughtful Drama & Many Good Lighter Moments

This fine adaptation of "Friendly Persuasion" is quite satisfying, with thoughtful drama that takes place in an interesting and believable setting, plus many good lighter moments. Though the story ultimately focuses on just a couple of the characters' concerns, along the way it provides an effective overview of their lives as a whole.

Gary Cooper is surprisingly believable in a somewhat atypical role as a Quaker father. Dorothy McGuire is well-cast as the sometimes fretful mother, and Anthony Perkins works very well as the son torn between his family and what he perceives as his duty. Walter Catlett is a bit over-the-top as the organ salesman, but he is entertaining, and his character is used well. In fact, the subplot with the organ is an interesting contrast with the main plot about the war, mirroring a couple of the same themes in a much less consequential context.

The setting in the American Civil War is well-conceived, and the family's dilemmas are portrayed sympathetically and convincingly. It is such a nice contrast with the type of movie that has to make its points through heavy-handed, contrived events, and it offers some worthwhile thoughts without pretending to offer easy, superficial answers.

Besides all that, it's a thoroughly enjoyable movie because of the many lighter, amusing moments. Director William Wyler and the cast work them in nicely with the more serious material, and the film maintains a harmonious balance throughout. It all makes for a very worthy and memorable picture.