Our Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945)

A Norwegian farmer lovingly raises his daughter in rural World War II-era Benson Junction, Wisconsin.

Director:

Roy Rowland

Writers:

Dalton Trumbo (screen play), George Victor Martin (book)

Stars:

Edward G. Robinson, Margaret O'Brien, James Craig

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Edward G. Robinson	...	Martinius Jacobson
Margaret O'Brien	...	Selma Jacobson
James Craig	...	Nels Halverson
Frances Gifford	...	Viola Johnson
Agnes Moorehead	...	Bruna Jacobson
Morris Carnovsky	...	Bjorn Bjornson
Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins	...	Arnold Hanson
Sara Haden	...	Mrs. Bjornson
Greta Granstedt	...	Mrs. Faraassen
Dorothy Morris	...	Ingeborg Jensen
Arthur Space	...	Pete Hanson
Elizabeth Russell	...	Kola Hanson
Louis Jean Heydt	...	Mr. Faraassen
Charles Middleton	...	Kurt Jensen
Francis Pierlot	...	Minister

Storyline

Life in small town Wisconsin. Selma and Arnold, aged 7 and 5, pal around together between their two farms. Selma has a newborn calf that her father gave to her which she named 'Elizabeth'. Nels is the editor of the Fuller Junction Spectator and the kids just call him 'editor'. Viola is the new school teacher from the big city. While Nels wants to marry Viola, Viola does not want to live in a small quiet, nothing happening town. The biggest news is that Faraassen has built a new barn.

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Plot Keywords:

editor | wisconsin | small town | community | farmer | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

Frühling des Lebens

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title is taken from The Holy Bible, The Song of Solomon, Chapter 2-15: "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes."

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Goofs

When Selma gets up to recite her Christmas story in church she is wearing white ankle socks. When she is finished and returns to where she was sitting she is wearing long white stockings.

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Quotes

Martinius Jacobson: [Entering Bjornson's new barn] You can still smell the new wood... finest smell on the earth.

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Connections

Spoofed in Gorilla My Dreams (1948)

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Soundtracks

"Joy to the World"
(1719) (uncredited)
Music attributed to George Frideric Handel
Hymn by Isaac Watts (1719)
Arranged by Lowell Mason
Sung by all in Church

User Reviews

Nurturing Those Tender Grapes

One of Edward G. Robinson's most beloved films is this one in which he totally reverses type and becomes the wise father of Margaret O'Brien. Our Vines Have Tender Grapes and the tender grapes referred to are the children in their innocence, Margaret O'Brien and Jackie Jenkins.

In this rural Wisconsin town where few even have electricity, the settlers are mostly Norwegian immigrants who did like our American Midwest climate because it was so similar to Norway. They are a tight knit group and are a reserved bunch. But as the film shows, during a crisis they do come together.

O'Brien and Jenkins are an appealing pair of youngsters. Their childhood is a whole lot like Tom Sawyer's and Huck Finn's. Of course in one instance they try duplicating something Tom and Huck did that nearly turns tragic.

Agnes Moorehead also shows what a capable player she is in playing Robinson's wife and O'Brien's mother. I'm sure she was grateful for not playing an evil woman for a change.

There is a subplot involving a romance of editor James Craig and new school teacher Frances Gifford. Gifford is first quite resistant to the town, she's a big city girl, but she warms up to them and Craig.

But the film really belongs to Robinson and O'Brien. Robinson has a tough fight, but he more than holds his own in scenes with the little moppet. Sad he didn't do more films like this.

Our Vines Have Tender Grapes is a timeless classic, I think children and families of any age will identify and love it.