Clay Spencer (Henry Fonda) loves to drink but dislikes the church. He gets pastor drunk and has to do some light blackmail to get his flock back. He and his wife (Maureen O'Hara) raise a large family in a small religious community in the mountains. Their oldest boy Clayboy (James MacArthur) is desperate to get out and attend college.
This is adapted from a novel and I don't know anything about the book. I do like Fonda anchoring this but the best part is the first act with the preacher. There is a good fight and a fun fight. After that, there is a rambling flow to this which isn't helped by Clayboy who is both utterly clueless and sometimes whiny. That might be too harsh but he doesn't give any reason to root for him. If he wants an education, it would help to show more clearly his hunger for reading. Instead, the clearest hunger is delivered by a sex-starved blonde. I like following Henry Fonda for being Henry Fonda. The rest is akin to a less compelling Little House on the Prairie.
This is adapted from a novel and I don't know anything about the book. I do like Fonda anchoring this but the best part is the first act with the preacher. There is a good fight and a fun fight. After that, there is a rambling flow to this which isn't helped by Clayboy who is both utterly clueless and sometimes whiny. That might be too harsh but he doesn't give any reason to root for him. If he wants an education, it would help to show more clearly his hunger for reading. Instead, the clearest hunger is delivered by a sex-starved blonde. I like following Henry Fonda for being Henry Fonda. The rest is akin to a less compelling Little House on the Prairie.