This is a beautiful film, it's about family values, morals and living with nature - not destroying it...... It shows what 1 person can do sometimes if he really tries. And the home in the tree is just so beautiful and simple and down to earth. I have watched movies every day since a child of 3 and believe me - I am 57 now and this is still one of the most unforgettable films ever made. Truly a masterpiece of its time. Thank you.
9 Reviews
Heartwarming tale of life in the forest
banse27 July 2001
Filmed in Cinecolor this is a remarkably effective story about a lost child (Billy Severn) raised by an old Hermit and who is taught about life amid nature in the forest. Endearing character actor Harry Davenport (Dr. Meade in Gone With The Wind) is just wonderful as Old John with his dog Bruno at his side and pet crow on his shoulder.There's good support from lovely Brenda Joyce as the kind lady and also from Edmund Lowe. It's available on video folks so you can rent it for the whole family to enjoy.
A must for families to teach children about the beauty of nature.
mark.waltz11 October 2011
Warning: Spoilers
There was a cheap short-lived color process for films called "Cine-Color". This low cost photography used at such "Z" Grade movie studios as Monogram, Lippert, PRC and Screen Guild, was utilized in mostly poor films (such as Screen Guild's "Scared to Death", Bela Lugosi's only color film), but ended up in some interesting sleepers as well. One of those is "The Enchanted Forest", a PRC family drama starring the magnificent character actor Harry Davenport ("King's Row", "Meet Me in St. Louis"), a lovable elderly performer who is simply magnificent here.
He plays a forest hermit who befriends wolves, foxes, chipmunks, mountain lions, and various species of birds. Finding a baby boy after a train accident, Davenport takes him in, and teaches him about the beauty of God's world outside man's cities. The boy's parents are devastated, but the mother refuses to give up hope that the child is alive. By coincidence, years later, they end up in the woods, where the hermit is fighting to keep the forest from being destroyed by land developers.
This is a sweetly made film, even on the cheap, and is a lesson for youth on the importance of man respecting nature. The interaction between Davenport and the animals (particularly the protective wolf and the weather forecasting frog) is entertaining and humorous without being silly. The film also avoids becoming sappy with the introduction of the baby boy who grows up under Davenport's love and the animal's protection. While not on the level of some of Disney's live action films of this era, it has a narrative that adults won't find cloying. Compare this to a later Disney classic, "So Dear to My Heart", as well as MGM's "The Yearling", for an innocence and purity of a long ago era, even post World War II that is missing today. Oh, and don't miss the visual of where the hermit lives. It is most memorable!
He plays a forest hermit who befriends wolves, foxes, chipmunks, mountain lions, and various species of birds. Finding a baby boy after a train accident, Davenport takes him in, and teaches him about the beauty of God's world outside man's cities. The boy's parents are devastated, but the mother refuses to give up hope that the child is alive. By coincidence, years later, they end up in the woods, where the hermit is fighting to keep the forest from being destroyed by land developers.
This is a sweetly made film, even on the cheap, and is a lesson for youth on the importance of man respecting nature. The interaction between Davenport and the animals (particularly the protective wolf and the weather forecasting frog) is entertaining and humorous without being silly. The film also avoids becoming sappy with the introduction of the baby boy who grows up under Davenport's love and the animal's protection. While not on the level of some of Disney's live action films of this era, it has a narrative that adults won't find cloying. Compare this to a later Disney classic, "So Dear to My Heart", as well as MGM's "The Yearling", for an innocence and purity of a long ago era, even post World War II that is missing today. Oh, and don't miss the visual of where the hermit lives. It is most memorable!
"This is the story of a forest, and of the people who walked in it..."
Foreverisacastironmess12329 October 2019
I'd never so much as heard of this when I first saw it, frankly I don't think most people would have, but like with so many gems that can spring out of the blue I'm so glad I happened to discover it because it can really lighten my spirits. I don't usually take to films that are so old, but this one was definitely a new gem to me because it was just so warm and moving, the old man's dialogue and the way he delivered it and the beautiful forest setting, it really touched my heart. I loved the visuals that the cinecolour technique gave the movie, it was almost dreamlike I thought. And that coupled with just how old a picture it is makes it feel like you're looking through a shimmering window into a world from long ago, which I suppose it is now, but I feel we could still learn something from it. Some might just dismiss it as antiquated sappy hokum, and yeah it is indeed a little schmaltzy, but it's also very sincere and sweet and heartfelt and it's got some very well defined and expressed deep themes about how important it is that we preserve the preciousness of life and nature, and of peace of the heart attained through living in harmony with it. The wonderful performance of Harry Davenport as kindly Old John makes the movie, and his beautiful philosophy on life as well as his relationships with the animals around him was all very soothing to me, he talks to the animals because he trusts and understands them and they do him, and you really believe that he loves them all and his forest home very deeply. And the quaint story plays out satisfyingly enough as he takes care of a child that he found washed down the river one day, and he teaches him the lessons that he's learned while doing what he can to protect his world from the destructive encroachment of loggers, and eventually reunite the shrill but cute little boy with the mother that never stopped looking for him. If there's one thing I didn't like it's the ending, it's so rushed, oversimplified and wrapped up but it fits so it's no big deal.. This beautiful little forest fable is well worth discovering if you have a fondness for vintage family films. It has a bit of a rough weathered look to it but trust me, this is one hidden treasure of a film that truly lives up to its name... "Sorrow is hushed into peace in my heart like the evening among the silent trees."
One for nature lovers
Leofwine_draca29 December 2012
An unashamedly old-fashioned story about an old hermit living out in the forest and the young boy he befriends in order to teach him about nature. It's a dated, twee and slow moving effort that I managed to catch on TV, although sadly the print used was absolutely horrible.
Animal lovers will be in their element, as the lead, Old John (played with a natural warmth by Harry Davenport) has a DR DOLITTLE-style affinity with animals, particularly in the two familiars he keeps (a German Sehpherd and a crow). At times the film feels like a westernised version of THE JUNGLE BOOK as the good guys come up against some evil loggers determined to exploit the wilderness for their own gains.
THE ENCHANTED FOREST is no classic, but for those who like this sort of stuff it's an efficient time-filler. And it possesses a kind of warming sentimentality that never quite overdoes it in the same way a Disney film would.
Animal lovers will be in their element, as the lead, Old John (played with a natural warmth by Harry Davenport) has a DR DOLITTLE-style affinity with animals, particularly in the two familiars he keeps (a German Sehpherd and a crow). At times the film feels like a westernised version of THE JUNGLE BOOK as the good guys come up against some evil loggers determined to exploit the wilderness for their own gains.
THE ENCHANTED FOREST is no classic, but for those who like this sort of stuff it's an efficient time-filler. And it possesses a kind of warming sentimentality that never quite overdoes it in the same way a Disney film would.
Have searched many years for this!
edb4029 June 2015
Searched, but had given up some years ago. I had really wanted my kids to see it. This movie had great impact on a young lad of 5 (moi), back in 45-46. The amount of love shown really had an influence on me to continue to wrestle with my 'other side". It may even have been the first movie that had me shed a tear! Now, to find a copy to watch, so I can pass judgment on the judgment of my youth! I recommend the viewing of this by youngsters, in a family setting. Yep, Mom and Pop should see it as well. This movie ranks with "The Good Earth" as being able to imbue a sense of warmth in a young person, while observing scenes of dilemma and turmoil.
This is among the most unusual films Hollywood produced in the 1940s.
planktonrules17 September 2023
"The Enchanted Forest" is a film produced by lowly PRC, among the worst of the tiny so-called 'Poverty Row Studios' making B-movies. Normally, this would pretty much guarantee that the movie would be poor...at best. Oddly, however, here they had a genuine hit and it was the biggest grossing film the studio made.
The story itself is incredibly strange. Not necessary bad...just strange. It's almost like a fairy tale set in modern times. On one hand you have many people who want to cut down the forests and exploit nature. On the other, you have an odd old man who loves nature and is very kind and gentle. In fact, Old John (Harry Davenport) can TALK to the animals as well as hearing nature talk to him...making him almost like Dr. Doolittle and John Muir combined.
Old John's life is changed one day when he discovers a baby lost in the wilderness. It seems the child was aboard a train that was struck by a landslide....and the child was assumed to have died. Instead, Old John raises the boy and teaches him his love of the wild. Later, the boy's mother, who survived the accident, returns to the forest. What's next? See the film.
Strange...but good. It hard to say much more because the plot is so unusual. And, unless you are the cynical sort, you'll probably enjoy this unique and engaging film.
The story itself is incredibly strange. Not necessary bad...just strange. It's almost like a fairy tale set in modern times. On one hand you have many people who want to cut down the forests and exploit nature. On the other, you have an odd old man who loves nature and is very kind and gentle. In fact, Old John (Harry Davenport) can TALK to the animals as well as hearing nature talk to him...making him almost like Dr. Doolittle and John Muir combined.
Old John's life is changed one day when he discovers a baby lost in the wilderness. It seems the child was aboard a train that was struck by a landslide....and the child was assumed to have died. Instead, Old John raises the boy and teaches him his love of the wild. Later, the boy's mother, who survived the accident, returns to the forest. What's next? See the film.
Strange...but good. It hard to say much more because the plot is so unusual. And, unless you are the cynical sort, you'll probably enjoy this unique and engaging film.
Not Enchanting, But Decent
boblipton13 May 2023
John Litel is a successful logger. He is preparing to cut out another huge swath of old growth, when his daughter, Brenda Joyce, visits him with her newborn son, and promptly loses him in a storm. This upsets her mind, and Litel puts off his plans to take care of her. However, the baby isn't dead. He's rescued and succored by Harry Davenport and his menagerie of animals living in harmony with nature.
Three years later, the baby has grown into seven-year-old Billy Severn, and Litel and Miss Joyce are back in the area, along with psychiatrist Edmund Lowe, planning to build a sanatorium and help Miss Joyce get her marbles back. The people working with them threaten Davenport and company.
There are certainly good intentions here, and the adults often do well with the stilted dialogue, although Davenport has trouble with his conversations with Master Severn, because the younger actor is not very good. Even with others, the rhythms of the performers are odd. In addition, the Cinecolor used on the production has faded in odd ways.
However, this was clearly a case of good intentions triumphing over everything, resulting in a decent assortment of actors on a PRC release, play dates in the major chains, and the highest gross in that studio's history. I don't think it's particularly distinguished, but it is watchable with no major flubs, it's always good to see Davenport, and for PRC, that's as good as it got.
Three years later, the baby has grown into seven-year-old Billy Severn, and Litel and Miss Joyce are back in the area, along with psychiatrist Edmund Lowe, planning to build a sanatorium and help Miss Joyce get her marbles back. The people working with them threaten Davenport and company.
There are certainly good intentions here, and the adults often do well with the stilted dialogue, although Davenport has trouble with his conversations with Master Severn, because the younger actor is not very good. Even with others, the rhythms of the performers are odd. In addition, the Cinecolor used on the production has faded in odd ways.
However, this was clearly a case of good intentions triumphing over everything, resulting in a decent assortment of actors on a PRC release, play dates in the major chains, and the highest gross in that studio's history. I don't think it's particularly distinguished, but it is watchable with no major flubs, it's always good to see Davenport, and for PRC, that's as good as it got.
Loved this film as a child
friedman-2124 April 2023
I only saw it once, when I was around 5 or 6. It was beautiful and I loved it, would like very, very much to see it again. I had seen Bambi and the sense of the forest and wild animals in Bambi was amazing and wonderous, the film full of the beauty of nature and life. And then The Enchanted Forest was beautiful--and quite frightening, too, in what it spoke of life's sadnesses as well--much as Bambi had been. I don't think I ever saw, as a child, any other films that brought forth the raw glorious beauty and power and tenuousness of life to anywhere near the extent that these two movies did. And now one can find Bambi sometimes playing somewhere, or on an old disk, or streamed, but where can one find "The Enchanted Forest'/
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