Customer Reviews

Our Vines Have Tender Grapes [VHS]

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This simple story offers sentiment without saccharine in its story of a farming family in a small community. Episodic in nature, the film follows the adventures of daughter Selma (Margaret O'Brien) and her friend Arnold (Jackie "Butch" Jenkins) as they, like the crops under her parents' care, grow into caring, loving individuals.

The cast is the great thing here. O'Brien was a gifted little actress, charming in her prissiness, and Jenkins equals her as her slightly pouty friend. Both offer memorable performances--but the truly remarkable performances here, the ones for which the film should be prized, come from Edward G. Robinson and Agnes Moorehead, who are cast against type in the roles of Selma's parents. Robinson, of course, is best remembered for his tough-guy roles, full of energetic bluster; Moorehead is most often recalled as one of the most memorable shrews in Hollywood history. But both show the range of their talents in this film, playing quietly, simply, and very movingly--and one regrets that both (particularly Moorehead) were not given more opportunity to play such in-depth roles more often.

Ultimately, VINES is about how parents teach their children and shape their lives--and about how children, for good or ill, learn lessons in life from their parents. Simply filmed, beautifully performed, and memorable from start to finish, it is a film that deserves wider recognition than it normally receives. An excellent family film that both parents and children will enjoy.

I watched this for the first time just a few days ago. It affected me so much that I watched it again the next day with someone else. I don't know when I have watched a movie that I enjoyed so much--it certainly has been a while.

While today's movies focus on action, violence, and sex, this movie focuses on real life situations and how they affect a small town Midwest family. Edward G. Robinson plays a role that you've never seen him play before--a loving hard-working father. Margaret O'Brien steals the show, however. Simply put, she is the cutest and sweetest character I have ever seen in film. There are a few times when Selma (her character) has a moment of selfishness, but she quickly realizes her error and repents. Meanwhile, she makes sweet and innocent remarks throughout the film, and her unselfish action at the end almost makes you cry.

Overall, there are several lovable characters in this film. As the teacher states at the end, you "fall in love with the whole town."

Warning--if you do not like sentimental, heartwarming, and wholesome films you will not like this!

I'm surprised that more people have not seen this movie. I saw it on one of the classic movie channels and loved it. Edward G. Robinson steps out of his usual gangster role and is totally convincing as a kind, tolerant, hardworking farmer trying to eke out a living and raise his daughter the best way he knows how. Margaret O'Brien is the daughter, and of course does an excellent job as the sweetest kid I've ever seen and she's believable! Agnes Morehead plays the mother--I was impressed with her as well, she always has played harsh,bitter women from what I've noticed and her portrayal in this movie is a total reversal. Some of the other actors may seem corny and maybe the story isn't as exciting as other movies but I'd recommend this one if you're into sentimental, happy-ending movies!

I would give this movie 10 stars if I could! I was deeply affected by the acting and plot of this story. At the end of the movie I cried because one, I wished it wasn't over, and two, because I think it's a powerful gift when you can make someone laugh and cry at the same time. I think it's exciting when the characters come alive and you can relate to their feelings. That is exactly what happened to me when I saw this movie. This movie was so perfect. The cast includes Edward G. Robinson as the loving, caring father; Margaret O'Brian is the young, naive daughter; Agnes Moorehead is the over-protctive mother; and (my personal favorite) Jackie Jenkins as the annoying, but cute cousin. These characters all played an important role in this movie. If Jakie Jenkins wasn't there than Margaret O'Brian would not get into trouble. If Margaret O'Brian wasn't there than Edward G. Robinson wouldn't have anyone to wake up in the middle of the night just to go see the circus. I loved all of these characters, and I know you will to!

It's true - this is about as nice as it ever got with a movie. There are no villains, no violence (except when animals had to be destroyed in a fire...and that wasn't pictured), and just a nice story of a nice Norwegian family living in rural Wisconsin.

The story emphasizes two members of the family: the 7-year-old daughter, played by 1940s child star Margaret O'Brien, and her father, played by famous tough-guy actor Edward G. Robinson. This is Robinson as you rarely saw him and refreshingly low-key.

Yes, O'Brien tends to overact a bit, but some of her lines are so touching, so moving and delivered with such a soft, sweet voice that she gets away with them. Her gesture at the end of the film - no "spoilers" here - is so astounding I doubt it would ever happen in real life.....but it's wonderful to see.

James Craig, Frances Gifford, Agnes Moorhead and Jackie "Butch" Jeknins all add to this old-fashioned wholesome film. (If those words turn you off, by all means, skip this movie.) Jenkins can be a bit much, but he does add humor to the movie. Craig and Gifford make an attractive couple.

This movie is highly recommended for those of you who want a break from films with "bad guys" and a lot of "edginess."

WHEN???????? WHAT IS TAKING SOOOOOOOOO LONG TO RELEASE THIS MOVIE. PLEASE SOMETIME BEFORE WE HAVE A MELTDOWN.

What a gentle side of Edward G. Robinson you see in this film!! He's mostly always portrayed as a "gangster" man in most of his film noir. He plays a firm but loving father to Selma (Margaret O'Brien. He teaches her lessons from sharing her birthday skates with Arnold (Butch Jenkins)to sharing her prize cow with a burned out farmer. Selma & Arnold have many adventures together. Often finding themselves in situations that are hard to get out of! Any one will love this movie of sweet innocence, lessons learned the hard way, to the love of your neighbor as yourself! I cant WAIT until this movie comes on DVD. I have the VHS but the quality is just not the same. I will be glad when all of Margaret O'Brien's movies are released on DVD. I dont know what the hold up is with releasing them. But, I assure you this 1 is a keeper!

In 1945, it was not easy for Americans to forget, even temporarily, the horrors of the war that were then going on in Europe and the Pacific. Movies of that decade most often touted the heroism or at least the correctness of the Allied cause. A few films, like OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES, served to remind America why we were fighting in the first place. Director Roy Rowland took the novel of the same name and used the talents of Dalton Trumbo to update the script to present a kindly vision of the American heartland that rang true to a generation of war weary theater goers. The film focuses on the lives of a Norwegian community of immigrants who chose Wisconsin as their transplanted home. What Rowland goes to great pains to show is a community that is defined less by their acknowledged common ethnicity and more by their common humanity. Rowland wisely uses the talents of Edward G. Robinson and Agnes Morehead, both of whom are cast against type. Both actors were well known as hoodlums and harridans respectively but here they are a married couple striving to make a living as farmers where nature all too often refuses to co-operate. Rain falls in buckets and gales to wash out crops. It is this constant reminder that their universe is a harsh and unforgiving backdrop against which their inner core of decency must struggle that daily tests their ability to remain good and loving folk. The high points of drama are those that in another director's hands might have morphed into the dreary commonplace. A barn burns down and Robinson, heedless of danger, runs inside to do what he can to help. He literally has to drag out the owner, take his revolver, and shoot the cattle that could not escape. His shrugging of his shoulders spoke volumes of his inner turmoil. His daughter, Selma (Margaret O'Brien) and her friend Arnold (Jackie Jenkins) play in a metal tub that very nearly results in tragedy. The bulk of the movie is a series of set pieces of vignettes between Robinson and O'Brien, as he tries to teach her the need for a morality that could give meaning to battles being fought overseas with guns and right here with plows and haystacks. What emerges by the end is the warm and uplifting feeling that one gets when one can see with crystal clarity that in times of crisis, all human beings discover that they share far more than dialect or bankroll.

This movie is full of tender grapes and tender hearts, a true classic set partly around Christmas time. Fuller Junction, Wisconsin is a town of Norwegian-immigrants, and recently arrived Jacobson family, Martinius (Ed Robinson), his wife Bruna (Agnes Moorhead of TV series "Bewitched" fame), and their only daughter, seven-year-old Selma (Margaret O'Brien) tries to make friends and adjust to the farm life in their new home. Innocent child play, routines at the farm, going to school, Church on Sunday, close knit community of few families in a town where nothing ever happens, is the background for this true Frank Capra-style family dynamics. This is a story where simple things touch you deeply; when Selma kills a squirrel accidentally while playing with her five-year-old cousin Arnold Hanson (Jackie Jenkins); when Martinius punishes Selma for refusing to give back the roller-skates to Arnold, and sends her to bed without dinner. When she begs to give him good-night kiss is touching especially when her father refuses her request. Later that night, Martinius, feeling guilty about punishing Selma, takes her to see a circus troupe passing through town, where she enjoys a little ride on elephant's trunk. When Selma gives a recitation of the Nativity, during a Christmas service, the entire congregation becomes emotional. There is also some drama in the movie when the whole town unites to rescue little Selma and Arnold when they are lost during the spring flooding; and when the community pulls together for Bjorn Bjornson (Morris Carnovsky) after his barn is destroyed in a fire. At a church service, the entire community helps him rebuild his barn. The townspeople drop only a few coins into collection box until Selma shames everyone by generously donating her calf, which inspires the town's people to give more.

During 1940s and 1960s, Hollywood went through the pressures of a political system which did not tolerate any sign of socialism (interpreted as communism at that time). The Free-offerings of the community to the sad-stricken farmer were highly frowned upon, and Ed Robinson was directly impacted by this since he found it difficult find work in Hollywood. In spite of this unfortunate consequence of the excess of a political system, I very much enjoyed the brilliant performances of Ed Robinson and Margaret O'Brien in this light drama directed by a person of vision and written by a writer with a heart.

1. Little Women
2. Meet Me In St. Louis (Two-Disc Special Edition)
3. A Holiday Affair (DVD) Romance (1955) 87 Minutes ~ Starring: Phyllis Thaxter, Scott Brady, Walter Brennan, Margaret O'Brien
4. Double Indemnity (Universal Legacy Series)
5. Little Caesar

Caught "Vines.." (missed the very beginning) on TCM and totally fell in love with it! I tivo'ed it and I can't stop watching this charming and sweet movie. Isn't it wonderful to see loving parents? Isn't it wonderful to see loving children? Its a movie I want to share with my whole family. It would make such a great Christmas present... DVD, anyone?