I remember watching this film on television way back when I was a kid (I'm 72 now). I thought it was sentimental slop back then, and to a degree it still is. But by golly, it made me cry when Uncle Chris died...the old coot. That's good film making.
In a sense it's an odd film for the esteemed actress Irene Dunne to star in. But she's a gem here...as always. Very different for her. Just as wonderful here is Barbara Bel Geddes, an actress whom I always thought didn't make enough films; but she was sure a rock on "Dallas". I can't quite decide whether Oscar Homolka (Uncle Chris) was good here or overacted. This was a very different type of role for Phillip Dorn (papa); I often think of him as the doctor in "Random Harvest" with Ronald Colman. The big surprise for me was that Peter Thorkelson (the undertaker) was played by Edgar Bergen. Rudy Vallee had a small role as the local doctor. I was quite touched regarding how the finally accepted Uncle Chris' housekeeper/wife, although it sure took them a long time.
It's an interesting film, though I'm not sure it wears very well. But when I think of how some of my Irish relatives lived back in the 1950s, it does bring about a different era, in this case with Norwegian immigrants.
In a sense it's an odd film for the esteemed actress Irene Dunne to star in. But she's a gem here...as always. Very different for her. Just as wonderful here is Barbara Bel Geddes, an actress whom I always thought didn't make enough films; but she was sure a rock on "Dallas". I can't quite decide whether Oscar Homolka (Uncle Chris) was good here or overacted. This was a very different type of role for Phillip Dorn (papa); I often think of him as the doctor in "Random Harvest" with Ronald Colman. The big surprise for me was that Peter Thorkelson (the undertaker) was played by Edgar Bergen. Rudy Vallee had a small role as the local doctor. I was quite touched regarding how the finally accepted Uncle Chris' housekeeper/wife, although it sure took them a long time.
It's an interesting film, though I'm not sure it wears very well. But when I think of how some of my Irish relatives lived back in the 1950s, it does bring about a different era, in this case with Norwegian immigrants.