Delmer Daves' 1961 quasi-epic "Parrish" was supposed to be the "coming out party" of sorts for its young cast. The movie was a big-budget soap opera on a par with "Peyton Place" and it boasted many of the up-and-coming stars of the day. Unfortunately, although the film was mostly well-served by its cast of would-be stars and starlets, it fell somewhat flat with the public and critics were none too kind. Troy Donahue had the title role and he didn't exactly set the screen on fire with his wooden acting and expressionless face. His miscasting was only a minor problem compared to the movie's bloated length and endless storyline. That said, the main plot is actually quite good. A young man (Parrish) decides to learn the tobacco business on a Connecticut farm under the guidance of a veteran farmer named Sala Post (a fine Dean Jagger). While learning the job and earning his keep, he's smitten by Post's vibrant and out-of-control daughter (Diane McBain at her best) but that romance is upstaged by an affair he has with one of the hired hands (Connie Stevens in tight bluejeans). Parrish's elegant mother (Claudette Colbert in her final screen appearance) arrives on the scene and announces to all that she's marrying Post's main competitor, the ruthless Judd Raike (a snarling and unsympathetic Karl Malden). What she sees in this maniacal tycoon (other than his deep pockets) is never explained to the viewing audience. Raike soon recruits Parrish away from Post to learn the tobacco business the hard way and proceeds to "rake" him over the coals at every opportunity. Also in the mix are Raike's rotten sons from a previous marriage who naturally take a permanent disliking to the new kid on the block. Parrish does find an ally in Raike's good-looking younger daughter, Paige (Sharon Hugueny), but even she can't dissuade him from quitting his job and joining the Navy. Luckily for Parrish, the Navy makes a real man out of him in no time flat. After a four year hitch, he returns to Connecticut to begin his career again and settle some old scores. It all sounds very dramatic, but Donahue's the wrong fellow to be playing the lead. He would've been better cast as one of the Raikes.
Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, Diane McBain and most notably Sharon Hugueny, all had limited success after this film. The late Ms. Hugueny faded into obscurity after a near fatal accident and a few bad marriages. That's a shame because she was quite beautiful in her day and had tremendous potential as an actress. Veteran Oscar winners from the past, Malden, Colbert and Jagger all handle their roles with professionalism in the film and are entirely watchable during their screen time. The cinematography is first-rate and probably the best thing about "Parrish." Mildred Savage wrote the novel and director Daves handled the script. As for Troy Donahue, he had a tough life as his star soon faded in the mid-1960s. Long past his prime, he was spotted in "Godfather Part II" with a small role as Connie Corleone's gigolo husband-to-be. His name in the film is Merle Johnson, which happened to be his real name. He died in 2000 from a heart attack. But he'll always have "Parrish."
Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, Diane McBain and most notably Sharon Hugueny, all had limited success after this film. The late Ms. Hugueny faded into obscurity after a near fatal accident and a few bad marriages. That's a shame because she was quite beautiful in her day and had tremendous potential as an actress. Veteran Oscar winners from the past, Malden, Colbert and Jagger all handle their roles with professionalism in the film and are entirely watchable during their screen time. The cinematography is first-rate and probably the best thing about "Parrish." Mildred Savage wrote the novel and director Daves handled the script. As for Troy Donahue, he had a tough life as his star soon faded in the mid-1960s. Long past his prime, he was spotted in "Godfather Part II" with a small role as Connie Corleone's gigolo husband-to-be. His name in the film is Merle Johnson, which happened to be his real name. He died in 2000 from a heart attack. But he'll always have "Parrish."