Review of All Mine to Give

Robert (Cameron Mitchell) and his bride, Jo (Glynis Johns) are Scottish immigrants who arrive in 19th century, rustic Wisconsin. They are going to stay with relatives until they get the money for a place of their own. But, alas, when they arrive in the midwest, the town's folk give them terrible news. Their relatives are dead and the house has been burned. Startled but undaunted, the two begin re-building the house and await the birth of their first child. When the midwife comes to help Jo, she hustles Robert away from the house and, hours later, rings a bell. That indicates the baby is a boy, as a whistle serves notice to a girl. Very happy, Robert and Jo have five more kids, three older boys and three younger girls, including Annabelle (Patty McCormack). And, Robert works for a lumber yard to increase their revenue, even though he and the Irish boss once get into a fist fight. But, one sad day, one of the boys comes down with diphtheria and, although Robert takes all of the other kids to a little house in the woods, the situation is serious. Unfortunately, although the boy recovers, Robert dies. Jo tries hard to keep on keeping on, becoming a part time dressmaker to pay the bills. But, horribly, she becomes deathly ill, too. Before she expires, she makes the oldest boy, also Robert, promise to find families to "adopt" all of the children. Through his tears, he makes the pledge. But, can Robert really find five families willing to take an extra child into their home? This is a very fine film, with tremendous values. Just watching Robert and Jo build a house, cook meals over fires and eek out an existence is very inspiring. One forgets how difficult life used to be and how there was no time to sit around on your bottom. The children, too, learn from their dedicated parents and follow their example, working hard. Even so, the deaths of the parents are quite sad so if you are not in the mood to cry, don't watch this film until you are ready. Mitchell and Johns make a fine couple while the children and other cast members do nice work as well. Watch out for McCormack, in a post Bad Seed role, that is a complete turnabout. The setting in rural Wisconsin is lovely, as are the costumes and photography. As for the script, it is admirable in its depiction of life 100 years ago and the direction is secure. All in all, if you wish to show your loved ones a fine family film, with outstanding values, here is a very good choice. All yours will like All Mine, that's fairly certain.