This is the story of Clay Spencer and his family. He works as the foreman at the local quarry, loves his family, loves fishing and occasionally drinking. Beloved in the community, Clay is practically a saint...except you will never see him in a church, that is until he gives the new minister fishing lessons and gets him drunk which starts a snowball of events that eventually lead Clay into the first pew with his family.
"No, Ida. I don't have to wait for heaven. I've got heaven right here."-Clay
Clay and his lovely wife Olivia have nine children, the oldest of which is Clayboy. Clayboy is the first in his family to graduate from high school and he is doing so with honors! Clayboy is sweet, innocent, inquisitive and really naive when it comes to the opposite sex.
"Kind and gentle, if she loves you a little before you marry her, she'll love you a lot more after."-Clay's advice to his son Clayboy.
Over the summer will this poor family be able to figure out a way to help Clayboy go to college?
This was such a beautiful film that captures a simpler time, when family men were revered and community helped each other out. Henry Fonda really embodies Clay Spencer and holds down the entire film. Maureen O'Hara, who plays his wife Olivia, is gorgeous and commanding in her role...the perfect foil for Henry Fonda. James MacArthur plays a convincing innocent teen on the verge of manhood as Clayboy.
This is a wonderful family drama and I recommend it to classic film fans and fans of family focused films. I would love to say this is a family friendly film, and by today's standards it probably is, but it does contain sone coming of age (aka sexual awakening) topics...which start with the breeding of a bull and the heavy petting of teenagers. While there is nothing graphic, I do think it is necessary to prepare parents for the possibility that the implied might prompt done questions.
I enjoyed the film quite a lot, especially for its romanticized simpler life. I also enjoyed the trivia that the secretary of the college was played by Maureen O'Hara's real life daughter.
"No, Ida. I don't have to wait for heaven. I've got heaven right here."-Clay
Clay and his lovely wife Olivia have nine children, the oldest of which is Clayboy. Clayboy is the first in his family to graduate from high school and he is doing so with honors! Clayboy is sweet, innocent, inquisitive and really naive when it comes to the opposite sex.
"Kind and gentle, if she loves you a little before you marry her, she'll love you a lot more after."-Clay's advice to his son Clayboy.
Over the summer will this poor family be able to figure out a way to help Clayboy go to college?
This was such a beautiful film that captures a simpler time, when family men were revered and community helped each other out. Henry Fonda really embodies Clay Spencer and holds down the entire film. Maureen O'Hara, who plays his wife Olivia, is gorgeous and commanding in her role...the perfect foil for Henry Fonda. James MacArthur plays a convincing innocent teen on the verge of manhood as Clayboy.
This is a wonderful family drama and I recommend it to classic film fans and fans of family focused films. I would love to say this is a family friendly film, and by today's standards it probably is, but it does contain sone coming of age (aka sexual awakening) topics...which start with the breeding of a bull and the heavy petting of teenagers. While there is nothing graphic, I do think it is necessary to prepare parents for the possibility that the implied might prompt done questions.
I enjoyed the film quite a lot, especially for its romanticized simpler life. I also enjoyed the trivia that the secretary of the college was played by Maureen O'Hara's real life daughter.