Stars in My Crown (1950)

In 1865, the small Southern town of Walsburg has become so dangerous, that Parson Josiah Doziah Gray gives his sermons while holding a gun.

Director:

Jacques Tourneur

Writers:

Joe David Brown (novel), Joe David Brown (adaptation)

Stars:

Joel McCrea, Ellen Drew, Dean Stockwell

Cast

Cast overview:
Joel McCrea	...	Josiah Doziah Gray
Ellen Drew	...	Harriet Gray
Dean Stockwell	...	John Kenyon
Alan Hale	...	Jed Isbell
Lewis Stone	...	Dr. Daniel Kalbert Harris, Sr.
James Mitchell	...	Dr. Daniel Kalbert Harris, Jr.
Amanda Blake	...	Faith Radmore Samuels
Juano Hernandez	...	Uncle Famous Prill
Charles Kemper	...	Prof. Sam Houston Jones
Connie Gilchrist	...	Sarah Isbell
Ed Begley	...	Lon Backett
Jack Lambert	...	Perry Lokey
Arthur Hunnicutt	...	Chloroform Wiggins
Marshall Thompson	...	Narrator (voice)

Storyline

Civil War veteran Josiah Grey comes to a small town to be a gospel minister. In time he has a family and many friends, but he also finds friction with a few of his parishioners. A young doctor grates at what he feels is the parson's interference in the scientific treatment of patients, and a mine owner resents Grey's protection of an old sharecropper whose small plot of land stands in the way of his continued mining. Grey must face a public health crisis and a lynch mob as a result, all seen and described through the eyes and memory of Grey's young nephew John.

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Plot Keywords:

minister | 19th century | american civil war | american civil war veteran | parson | 

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Taglines:

Take your choice ... either I speak ... or my pistols do !

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 September 1950 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Estrellas en mi corona

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$1,175,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,962,000, 31 December 1950

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,146,000, 31 December 1950

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was a success at the box office, earning MGM a profit of $225,000 ($2.37M in 2018) according to studio records.

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Quotes

John Kenyon: There's no writin' on here. This ain't a will.
Josiah Doziah Gray: Yes, it is, son. It's the will of God.

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Soundtracks

Nut Brown Maiden
(uncredited)
Traditional

User Reviews

Crown Earned

It gets high marks because of Joel McCrea right off. Then, it is a Western and there is always so much to learn about the early wild days and how towns got started along with laws, rules, regulations and all the rest. I always notice how the buildings of these start-up towns were built one right next to another. One fire takes them all out. I wonder how many times a town was actually re-built from fire losses? Notice too the streets and roads. Good community flick with everyone knowing everyone else and helping each other too. What an interesting way to live and grow up in. You got characters both good and not so good, the Klan, greed, fever, love interest, and a nice, happy ending. Such clean, fun and wholesome entertainment. Even if it is not true to life it can be and restores faith in human-kind just by watching. Warm and fuzzies will visit with you guaranteed. Narrator does an excellent job helping us to get the flick and not work too hard. Pay attention to Uncle Famous and his attitude on life. He lives simply, has all he needs, bothers no one likes everybody and is thankful just to be here. What a role model if there ever was one. This movie shows you what life can be like if we just let it. Good sandwich movie and tasty drink with a snack to follow will keep you happy and content to the satisfying end