Customer Reviews

Parrish [VHS]

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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-

I consider this movie a classic for it's time period. I am astounded it's not yet on DVD and that we have to "vote" to convence the studio to release it. Ever bit of nonsense that's newly relased makes it to DVD. It's a shame such movies as Parrish and Splender in the Grass are not available.

My wife and I saw this film at a drive in central coastal caif.when first released.I believe the musical scores of Daves films lifted them higher than the scripts alone would allow.Each character or relationship had it's own theme music which would swell as a new scene faded in from black, it was very subtle,but very effective.It put the audience back in contact with the characters without using additional dialog.In the first viewing you may not even be aware of what Daves and Steiner are doing.The same thing happens in A Summer Place,Rome Adventure,Susan Slade It really adds to the enjoyment of the film.Of course it only works when someone of Max Steiners talent scores the films.Delmar Daves,best known perhaps as a director of westerns certainly had the touch to direct romantic films with a message.The skill to get the best performances out of young and inexperienced actors,and the most beautiful visuals and photographic work of that or any other era.His films leave you feeling good,a smile on your face,and your faith in mankind restored.THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!

Max Steiner's musical scoring, the brilliant performances by the entire cast, and the great directing and editing will put this film in the Gone With the Wind category. I recommend it highly to those who want to see filmmaking at its best.

My mother first saw this film when she was 10 or 11 years old. She knew from then on she would have a daughter named Paige. My mother purchased a copy of this film as a gift for my 29th birthday. We watched it together. The symbolism and the moral message of the film are applicable to today: money, power & sex. Not necessarily in that order. In my opinion, Father Rake was in dire need of lithium. The fact the word pregnant was used in an early 1960's film dropped my jaw. I would love to read the book, but I have not been able to find a copy. This is not much of a review. If it were, I would far exceed the 1000 word limit. Those who find this movie sappy and stupid should overlook the acting and delve a little deeper into the message.

This was a major film in 1961 and I find it hard to believe it
isn't available yet in DVD form - hurry up!

This DVD has been in this status for at least six months. What is the holdup? Why has this classic 1961 film not yet been recorded in DVD? Why has the status been not yet released suggesting that it is intended to be when the status hasn't changed in actually longer than six months? Are the producers just pulling our chain? Will somebody make a decision now! I think there has been enough stalling on moving on this. Make it a DVD now! It is better than the multitude of garbage I see today on DVD that linger on the rental shelfs for eternity. Anybody who knows great films and appreciates films throughout the era of filmmaking knows of this film and wants it on DVD. So act now and stop the indecisiveness that seems to have the producers in the grip of indecision. There are many more great films that should have by now been on DVD.

And, Why can't the producers make a complete version of the films recorded on DVD instead of their sham of placing the deleted scenes on another section of the disk calling it a extra feature when the real version would be the extra feature. I want the original uncut, entire undeleted version of the movie and not this scam feature that actually is a deleted artificial version of the true film. This a is borderline crime to movie watchers. What's up with these people who seem to want the original version for themselves to possibly make money on later.
It is done in the disguise of censorship. Most movies I am talking about children don't watch. Second, the undeleted version is shown in the theaters. There are deletions that are done before relesase into the public. Why is there not director's cuts on every movie made? This sounds like greed or ignorance in action. It is about money. Make the full film and skip the feature of deleted scenes on another section of the disk. This is disingenuious to all movie watchers.

I think "Parrish" has run into this because they are deciding which scenes to delete from the classic DVD because with the TV technology people will not have to see movies in theaters anymore when they can have a simulation of the theater in their home. Also they want to decide what scenes are deemed unsuitable for children when children won't watch them but even if they do, there are no unsuitable scenes. It's called don't let the people enjoy the movies, just think about how much more money they can make on them by reshowing the true uncut version in a movie theater later. These films will never be reshown in theaters again but later they can sell the true version and make people buy another copy, and they know people will buy another copy. This is conservative thoughtlessness in action. This is hypocrisy. Summing up we have inaction,ignorance, hypocrisy, greed and thoughtlessness, That sounds like the GOP, like many of those people with money. That's why "Parrish" is not on DVD yet.

A lot of people forget that there was a stable of youthful actors during the late '50s/ early '60s, which co-stars Troy Donahue and Connie Stevens were were part of here. This film deals with the Conneticut tobacco planting industry, a woman (Colbert) who is hired as governess for one of the planters' daughter, her iconoclastic son (Donahue), his girlfriend (Stevens) the region's largest landholder who wants it all (Karl Malden) and his personable sweet-natured dauhter (Sharon Hugueny). There are family struggles in this film which are a lot like later TV series like "Dallas" and "Dynasty". Another point of interest is the work songs sung by the migrant Jamaican workforce; "There's a wheel spinnin' round and round/ puttin' tobacco in the ground", and other such chants. This is no Oscar winner, but it's a lot better than just about any other generation-cult film.