Ah Wilderness! (1935)

Story of small-town life in turn-of-the-century America, and a young boy's problems facing adolescence.

Director:

Clarence Brown

Writers:

Frances Goodrich (screen play), Albert Hackett (screen play)

Stars:

Wallace Beery, Lionel Barrymore, Aline MacMahon

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Wallace Beery	...	Sid Miller
Lionel Barrymore	...	Nat Miller
Aline MacMahon	...	Aunt Lily
Eric Linden	...	Richard Miller
Cecilia Parker	...	Muriel McComber
Spring Byington	...	Essie Miller
Mickey Rooney	...	Tommy Miller
Charley Grapewin	...	Dave McComber (as Charles Grapewin)
Frank Albertson	...	Arthur Miller
Edward J. Nugent	...	Wint Selby (as Edward Nugent)
Bonita Granville	...	Mildred Miller
Helen Flint	...	Belle
Helen Freeman	...	Miss Hawley

Storyline

Young idealist Richard Miller is selected as valedictorian for his New England high school commencement class of 1906 and intends to inject modern anti-capitalistic ideas into his speech. His father, Nat Miller, accidentally learns of it and interrupts Richard's speech before he can make a fool of himself. The small town later celebrates the Fourth of July with customary fireworks, picnics and the like, with Richard spending time with his girl, Muriel McComber, who promises she will allow him to kiss her one day. When Richard sends poems of love to Muriel, quoting the likes of Omar Khayyám and Swinburne, her father prevents her from ever seeing him again and forces her to write a letter denouncing him. Heartbroken, Richard drowns his sorrow in a local bar, drinking and smoking with a vamp called Belle, and comes home drunk. Alcoholic uncle Sid, who is used to the effects of liquor, nurses Richard back to sobriety, but Richard still must face the uncertain punishment of his father as ...

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Plot Keywords:

valedictorian | boy | firework | small town | vamp | 

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Taglines:

The play that startled the nation!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on playwright Eugene O'Neill's only comedy.

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Goofs

Belle's mole on her cheek/upper lip disappears halfway through her scene, then reappears later.

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Quotes

Nat: Well, look here, Richard. It's about time you and I had a serious talk about certain matters pertaining to, er, the opposite sex. The subject has come up of its own accord and it's a good time to... I mean there's no use to procrastinating any further. Here goes. Richard, you've now arrived at the age... well, you're a man, in a way. It's only natural that you should, er... I mean there's a certain class of woman in this world. There always has been and always will be as long as human nature is...

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Connections

Version of Ljuva ungdomstid (1961)

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Soundtracks

Then You'll Remember Me
(1843) (uncredited
Written by Michael William Balfe
Sung a cappella by Frank Albertson

User Reviews

A far-cry from "Long Day's Journey into Night"

Eugene O'Neill wrote only one comedy, and this screen version of it is delightful. It treats some of the same problems as his tragedies, like alcoholism, but treats them lightly and with compassion. The cast is great. I especially like Lionel Barrymore as the father, Wallace Beery as Sid, and Aline MacMahon as Lily--but Mickey Rooney as the little brother dominates every scene he is in. My favorite scene is where the family is at dinner and Uncle Sid comes home drunk. They are concerned for him but can't keep from laughing at the nutty things he says.

After seeing this movie, I bought a CD of the Broadway musical version, "Take Me Along," and a video of a Hollywood musical version, "Summer Holiday." This is such a great play, they can't do too many different versions of it.

(My brother-in-law - who doesn't even LIKE movies - liked "Ah, Wilderness!" when I showed it for him and my sister on a recent visit.)

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

April 1936 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Ayer como hoy

Filming Locations:

Grafton, Massachusetts, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1