Product Details

• Actors: Robert Mitchum, Eleanor Parker, George Peppard, George Hamilton, Everett Sloane
• Directors: Vincente Minnelli
• Writers: Harriet Frank Jr., Irving Ravetch, William Humphrey
• Producers: Edmund Grainger, Sol C. Siegel
• Format: NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Warner)
• VHS Release Date: September 1, 1998
• Run Time: 150 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301969073
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,251 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Home from the Hill is among the underrated titles in the careers of Robert Mitchum and Vincente Minnelli, two disparate talents who create a potent familial saga here. The setting is East Texas, where Mitchum's philandering patriarch rules the local area. His wife (Eleanor Parker) has raised their son (George Hamilton) as a momma's boy, the kind of soft kid who gets bamboozled into going on a "snipe hunt" with the pranking locals. His opposite number is a manly farmhand (George Peppard) with his own bond with Mitchum. Southern melodrama thrives in such a setting, and the film doesn't avoid all the traps, but Minnelli suffuses the movie with the same emotional effects of color and movement that he brought to his direction of musicals. Minnelli's sensitivity and Mitchum's strength carry the movie, but the secret weapon is the unexpectedly good work from the two Georges, both of whom were at the beginning of their careers. (You can see from this film that Peppard is a dead-cert to become a major movie star, which he almost did--but then didn't, for a variety of reasons.) The film was shot on location around Paris, Texas, and although this is far from Minnelli's An American in Paris, the exciting hunting sequences are solid proof that you can't pigeonhole a talented director. You can't pigeonhole Mitchum, either, and this is one of his best roles. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Earthy melodrama, July 10, 2003

By 

Kona (Emerald City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Home From the Hill [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Robert Mitchum stars as Wade, a pompous and powerful good ol' boy who runs his small Texas town. Things aren't so good on the home front, though; his wife (Eleanor Parker) has held a grudge against him for years since he fathered a child out of wedlock. Their legitimate son (George Hamilton) has turned out to be a weakling and a disappointment to old Dad. Add to this mix the young and pretty Libby (Luana Patton), who likes both sons, and you have a great story.

Although Mitchum is wonderful, it is charismatic George Peppard, who plays the illegitimate son, who is the real star. He is handsome and appealing as a rugged man with a wise and tender heart and the camera loves him. George Hamilton is too old to play a 17-year old mama's boy, and he's stiff and awkward. Beautiful Eleanor Parker is excellent as Wade's long-suffering wife and Mitchum is, well, Mitchum, which in this case is just perfect.

This film is long and melodramatic, but it has a juicy script, likable and attractive actors, a lovely score, and all the loose ends are tied up in the end. Heartily recommended.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Must See Movie, March 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Home From the Hill [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a movie that reaches to everyone. It deals with pride and a misunderstanding of people. It deals with love, heartache, sadness, and loss. Robert Mitchum is the man who lives with a wife who could not be with him because of his bastard son, played by George Peppard. Their own son, played by George Hamilton, is weak and soon has a hatred for marriage because of his parents. The only one with a heart is George Peppard. Everyone soon comes to understand one another, but sadly it is too late. This movie is an excellent one for people who would just like an old story about the reality of life.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great American film reminiscent of a Greek tragedy, August 7, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Des Moines, Ia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Home From the Hill [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Years ago this film was featured on HBO, for several months, and I loved it immediately. In fact, I have borrowed the name Raph(spelled by us as Raphe) as my son's middle name. Not as he can be a little bastard, but because Raph was the most endearing, faithful, courageous, trustworthy charactor in the movie, despite having suffered more than any other. Since I have bought "Home from the Hill" thru amazon.com. I was suprised to find that my 5 yr old son and my wife also enjoyed "Home" the first time they saw it.

The story is based on a novel by William Humphrey, under the same title. I have not read the book, but once you see the movie you will understand why I would want to.

This book is for many audiences, including romance seekers, fans of classic greek tragedy, and outdoors sportsmen. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.