Product Details

• Actors: Claudette Colbert, Troy Donahue, Karl Malden, Dean Jagger, Connie Stevens
• Directors: Delmer Daves
• Writers: Delmer Daves, Mildred Savage
• Producers: Delmer Daves
• Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: Unrated
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: January 31, 1995
• Run Time: 138 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302986338
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #166,379 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Parrish ... Classic filmmaking from director Delmer Daves, August 10, 2000

By 

gobirds2 (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Parrish [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is the second film that teamed director Delmer Daves and teen idol Troy Donahue. Despite its notoriously poor reviews, this is a very good film in the context of the soap opera genre and extends beyond many inherent bounds of that genre for its sheer entertainment. This is good filmmaking. Delmer Daves was the consummate professional, being a meticulous craftsman. His films were beautifully photographed; many times employing difficult crane shots to incorporate the characters into their environment from which he contrasted their own conflicts. This film is no exception as it deals with the struggle for control over Connecticut's tobacco farming industry. The main antagonist is the all-powerful Judd Raike (Karl Malden) who intends to buy out the entire valley. His main nemesis is the noble Sala Post (Dean Jagger) who stands for uncompromising integrity. Parrish MacLean (Troy Donahue) and his mother, Ellen (Claudette Colbert) arrive in tobacco country from Boston and become involved in the conflict. Along the way Donahue finds three love interests: Connie Stevens, Diane McBain and Sharon Hugueny. Critics at the time criticized Malden's maniacal performance, but in light of today's cutthroat business tactics it seems right on target. However, I always best admired Jagger's mild but dignified performance. Much of the location photography was filmed in Connecticut (the Sala Post house in Middlefield, the Charles W. Morgan whaling ship at Mystic Seaport, the Connecticut River ferryboat photographed from Gillette's Castle, the Congregational Church in Essex for wedding scenes, the Tara Mare Resort Hotel and Marina at Saybrook Point, the United States Navy submarine base at Groton and Tobacco Fields and Sheds in Hartford County were all featured). Having lived in Connecticut all my life, I can really appreciate the authenticity and craftsmanship that was put into this film. It is a beautiful film very much enhanced by Max Steiner's evocative young-at-heart score. They don't make them like this anymore. This film was based on the novel by Connecticut's own Mildred Savage. I highly recommend this motion picture. This print on Warner's VHS is very good.

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice solid film, November 10, 2000

By 

Paul Sayles (Japan) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Parrish [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a story of families in struggle for Connecticut tobacco, Karl Malden vs. Dean Jagger, with assistance on Jagger's side by Troy Donahue et al.

I have lived near sites that were used in the filming of Parrish, so I guess this is a review with homesickness in it as well as objectivity. That being said, this is a good solid movie with exceptional acting from Malden, Jagger, Claudette Colbert, Dub Taylor and in his own way, Donahue, as the battle for control of prime tobacco land is fought out.

Malden may seem a little over the top in his portrayal of Judd but it is a perfect definition of a man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. It is this single-mindedness that strikes throughout the film. Unfortunately, Malden is saddled with two "nitwit" sons who do little to take the pressure off. Maybe this is part of what makes Malden's character what it is; the inability to delegate with confidence and so he is doubly forced to compensate for lack of talent in his own organization. Donahue is seen as an unlikely allie for Malden. However, Donahue is unable to acquire the ruthless instincts of Malden and eventually rebels. He is seasoned by an enlistment in the Navy and the submarine service and then returns to do battle with Malden and his family.

There are a number of surprise topics that are tackled, Jagger accepts that he is a rather low key personality, so low key that his wife left him. She was killed shortly thereafter leaving him to raise a daughter single-handedly. He acknowledges that he has not been successful and the assistance of Claudette Colbert to manage her is of little avail. Pregnancy, and if you like, adultery are openly talked about. Loveless marriages litter the landscape of Connecticut throughout this film.

Jagger sees Donahue as a someone can resist Malden and stakes him to land and the opportunity to attempt to hold off Malden's attempts to control the land. Donahue appears to be succeeding as the movie ends. He has met the challenge of Malden, but you don't know if he will win; you think he will but you never really know.

This is an excellent film, capturing an industry and region that is little known. The supporting cast is outstnading and gives the film depth that it needs to succeed. The depiction of migrant labor is especially interesting; again because it is taking place in a region that one wouldn't expect to see it.

Parrish is a must for those with a love/longing for New England as it gives you a little of everything. I highly recommend this film to all.

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where is the DVD????, May 11, 2005

By 

Movie Nut (New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Parrish [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I am always amazed when I see the list of titles being released on DVD. Television shows that have just completed one season are on DVD but classic films like Parrish, Rome Adventure, Susan Slade, Make Way for Tomorrow, Lucy Gallant, Youngblood Hawke, A Summer Place to name a few are not available on DVD and most were never available on VHS- I don't get it! So much junk is put out in DVD format yet a film like Magnificent Obsession is not. I am beginning to think the film studios think that the DVD buying public is basically 25 or under and that is the age group they must cater to- I really wish they would get a clue and figure out that some of us would rather see a film without nudity or profanity. What a pleasure it is to watch these films that depict a simplier more genuine time-