I love Barbara Stanwyck. This film, made in 1942, was one of her personal favorites. Teamed with Joel McCrea (the Great Man, Ethan Hoyt), theirs is a collaboration that would last throughout 7 pictures together.
Told in flashback, we see a reporter (K.T. Stevens), interview Hannah (Stanwyck) who is 109 years old just as they are about to dedicate a statue of Ethan Hoyt (her husband). We then go into the flashback mode to the year 1848 where we see Hannah as a spirited young girl. The film depicts Hannah's life with Ethan, their pioneering stock (nobody plays a pioneer woman better than Stanwyck), the tragedies they encounter, their separation and ultimate reunion.
Stanwyck, of course as always is excellent and it has been said she should have received an Academy Award nomination for this picture. I agree.
This film was one of her own personal favorites but at the time it was released, it was never very successful and it broke her heart.
This film is excellent in every way and will disappoint none of Stanwyck's admirers.