Friendly Persuasion (1956)

Director:

William Wyler

Writer (WGA):

Jessamyn West (book)
(more)

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:

Pacifist | Father Son Relationship | Rebel | Religion | 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
Samantha the Goose	...	Herself
Marjorie Main	...	The Widow Hudspeth
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Anderson	...	Poor loser (dunked by Jess) (uncredited)
Mary Carr	...	Emma (Quaker woman) (uncredited)
John Compton	...	Rebel lieutenant (uncredited)
Chuck Courtney	...	Reb Courier (uncredited)
John Craven	...	Band leader (uncredited)
Billy Curtis	...	Midget at county fair (uncredited)
James Dobson	...	Rebel soldier (uncredited)
Robert Fuller	...	Youthful soldier (at shooting gallery) (uncredited)
Richard Garland	...	Rebel bushwhacker (grabbed by Jess) (uncredited)
Everett Glass	...	Elder (Brother Amos) (uncredited)
Frank Hagney	...	Lemonade vendor (uncredited)
Charles Halton	...	Elder (Brother Cope) (uncredited)
Harry Hines	...	County fair barker (uncredited)
Earle Hodgins	...	Shooting gallery operator (uncredited)
Jean Inness	...	Mrs. Purdy (uncredited)
Tom Irish	...	Young rebel (uncredited)
Mary Jackson	...	Country woman (uncredited)
Frank Jenks	...	Shell game man (uncredited)
Diane Jergens	...	Elizabeth (Quaker girl) (uncredited)
Don Kennedy	...	Buster (whacked by Eliza) (uncredited)
Donald Kerr	...	Billy Goat's manager (uncredited)
Helen Kleeb	...	Old lady (uncredited)
Norman Leavitt	...	Clem (looter) (uncredited)
Nelson Leigh	...	Methodist minister (uncredited)
Tom London	...	Farmer on front line with Gard (uncredited)
Doug McClure	...	Soldier (uncredited)
John Pickard	...	Ex-sergeant on front line with Josh (uncredited)
Ivan Rasputin	...	Billy Goat (wrestling challenger) (uncredited)
Gene Roth	...	Farmer (uncredited)
Henry Rowland	...	O'Hara (uncalled-for yelling) (uncredited)
Ralph Sanford	...	Businessman (uncredited)
William Schallert	...	Young husband (uncredited)
James Seay	...	Rebel captain (uncredited)
Russell Simpson	...	Elder (Brother Griffith) (uncredited)
Frank Sully	...	Rebel looter (uncredited)
Joe Turkel	...	Poor loser (uncredited)
Steve Warren	...	Haskell (uncredited)

Directed by
William Wyler

Writing credits (WGA)
Michael Wilson		(screenplay) originally uncredited
Jessamyn West		(book)

Produced by
Robert Wyler	....	associate producer
William Wyler	....	producer

Original Music by
Dimitri Tiomkin

Cinematography by
Ellsworth Fredericks		(director of photography) (as Ellsworth Fredricks)

Film Editing by
Robert Belcher		(as Robert A. Belcher)
Edward A. Biery		(as Edward A. Biery Jr.)
Robert Swink

Art Direction by
Ted Haworth		(as Edward S. Haworth)

Set Decoration by
Joseph Kish		(as Joe Kish)

Costume Design by
Dorothy Jeakins

Makeup Department
Agnes Flanagan	....	hair stylist (as Agnes Flanigan)
Emile LaVigne	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Allen K. Wood	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Austen Jewell	....	assistant director
Thomas Carr	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Tom Plews	....	properties (as Tommy Plews)
James West	....	construction supervisor (as Jimmy West)

Sound Department
Ralph Butler	....	sound recording engineer
Del Harris	....	sound editor
Gordon R. Glennan	....	sound recordist: westrex sound services (uncredited)
Gordon Sawyer	....	sound recordist: samuel goldwyn ssd (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Augie Lohman	....	special effects (as August Lohman)

Stunts
Tap Canutt	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Loren Janes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Leroy Johnson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Slim Talbot	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ray Rennahan	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bert Henrikson	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Hal Ashby	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Richard C. Harris	....	music editor
Dimitri Tiomkin	....	conductor
Paul Marquardt	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
George Parrish	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Herbert Taylor	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Robert Gary	....	set continuity
Clarence Marks	....	consultant
Richard Maybery	....	production assistant
Stuart Millar	....	assistant to producer
Jessamyn West	....	technical advisor
Harry F. Hogan	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Allied Artists Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Allied Artists Pictures (1956) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1957) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

137 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (as De Luxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:G (video rating) | Norway:12 | 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:

Prof. Waldo Quigley: I want you to know, sir, I honor your prejudices - -um, uh, convictions.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Boy Meets World: Friendly Persuasion (#6.4)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Coax Me A Little

A near perfect blend of casting, acting, direction and music

Nearly half a century old but a film with irresistible charm and atmosphere. Some might describe it as rather sickly sentimental at times, but William Wyler's touch is always assured and coaxes performances of great charm from all the principals. I saw the film for the first time in1957 and was immediately captivated by it. It has remained one of my favourite movies -and takes its place with such classics as "It's a wonderful Life" and "Casablanca" It was also the first time that I really noticed the music of Dimitri Tiomkin, who is now firmly established as my favourite film composer. He is the composer 'par excellence' in setting mood, and there is something haunting in his themes and melodies. Take away Tiomkin's soundtrack and you would destroy the film. Fortunately you can buy the CD of the soundtrack. Tiomkin also wrote the music to "It's a Wonderful Life", and "Gunfight at the OK Corral", which I find also strangely moving. Another feature of the film which adds to the overall charm is the inclusion of humorous touches such as Gary Cooper staring through two curtain hoops at the music booth at the county fair which gives him the appearance of wearing glasses. The strong storyline involves the viewer directly in that one realises the crucial choice involved in taking up arms to defend one's home or refusing to oppose the aggressor because the New Testament asks us to "turn the other cheek". So, what makes this film so memorable? I have spoken to people who think that this movie is "O.K" -"nothing special", and other such comments that suggest mediocrity. But to me , there is an atmosphere that is unforgettable- and thanks must go to the genius of Wyler, Tiomkin, Cooper and a host of talented craftsmen and women.