| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
From director J.J. Abrams comes the next installment in the Star Trek saga, Star Trek Into Darkness. See it at Cinemark theaters now and pre-order on Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray, DVD, and the Exclusive Starfleet Phaser Gift Set. Shop Star Trek Into Darkness and more in the Star Trek Store. Learn more |
Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
Special Features
- Vintage featurette on the film's Grand Teton premiere
- Interview with Henry Fonda
- Spencer's Mountain and The Waltons essay
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Long before Henry Fonda played an irascible patriarch in On Golden Pond, he played an equally crusty family man in this warmly rustic, 1963 drama Spencer's Mountain, based on an Earl Hamner Jr. novel that later inspired the television series The Waltons. Fonda plays Clay Spencer, a fiercely independent, hard-drinking, foul-mouthed Wyoming laborer who believes in God but rejects (to his tiny community's consternation) organized religion. Scraping together enough money to build a new house for his wife (Maureen O'Hara) and nine children, Spencer runs into an obstacle to both his plans and family pride when his college-bound son (James MacArthur) romances the daughter of Spencer's boss. Director Delmer Daves whips up a kind of morose schmaltz out of the earnest material, but it's Fonda's grit and heartland integrity that carry the day and establish some self-effacing wit. Some nice features here, including interviews with Fonda and a short documentary, "Spencer's Mountain: Grand Teton Premiere." --Tom Keogh
Product Description
Grandpa Spencer fathered nine boys in the shadow of the Grand Teton mountain bearing their name. His son Clay (Henry Fonda) married Olivia (Maureen O'Hara) and had nine more kids, "all thoroughbreds." Now the eldest son is out of high school, eager for more in life. But college money is hard to come by. Spencer's Mountain has deep roots too. It's based on the Earl Hamner Jr. novel that later inspired TV's The Waltons. The pleasures of Delmer Daves' film are as plentiful as trout in its swirling streams. Fonda and O'Hara shine in a cast that includes Wally Cox, Donald Crisp and James MacArthur. Max Steiner supplies an evocative score. Breathtaking fields and forests add visual splendor. All enhance this beloved story of human values - and reaching for your dreams.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
61 of 67 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Anyone familiar with the long running TV series, THE WALTONS, will immediately see some similarities in this film. It was written by the same author but predates the Waltons in terms of its production. Still, there are many similarities as well as a few differences.
The Waltons takes place during the era of the great depression. Spencer's Mountain has the 1950's written all over it although it never gives a particular time. The Waltons takes place near Walton Mountain in the Southeast while this film takes place near Spencer's Mountain in the Grand Tetons. The TV series had John-Boy as the eldest son of the family and the movie has Clay-Boy in the same role. Both of these young men seek knowledge and thirst for education. The patriarch of both families is relatively poor and struggles to provide for the family but is a faithful husband and father with those duties as the top priority. Both are wholesome and a bit of Americana. Somebody who liked the Waltons should like Spencer's Mountain as well.
Henry Fonda plays the lead and does so in a likeable manner. He will sacrifice anything, including his dreams, for the sake of his family. Maureen O'Hara plays the mother. She is a good, church going woman and the anchor of the family. James MacArthur plays the eldest son. He is dutiful but yearns to get away and better himself. He wants to do something besides work in the quarry all his life.
As I said before, it is all very wholesome fare. I don't think it's as good as the Waltons but it is still very good.
The Waltons takes place during the era of the great depression. Spencer's Mountain has the 1950's written all over it although it never gives a particular time. The Waltons takes place near Walton Mountain in the Southeast while this film takes place near Spencer's Mountain in the Grand Tetons. The TV series had John-Boy as the eldest son of the family and the movie has Clay-Boy in the same role. Both of these young men seek knowledge and thirst for education. The patriarch of both families is relatively poor and struggles to provide for the family but is a faithful husband and father with those duties as the top priority. Both are wholesome and a bit of Americana. Somebody who liked the Waltons should like Spencer's Mountain as well.
Henry Fonda plays the lead and does so in a likeable manner. He will sacrifice anything, including his dreams, for the sake of his family. Maureen O'Hara plays the mother. She is a good, church going woman and the anchor of the family. James MacArthur plays the eldest son. He is dutiful but yearns to get away and better himself. He wants to do something besides work in the quarry all his life.
As I said before, it is all very wholesome fare. I don't think it's as good as the Waltons but it is still very good.
42 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is still one of my old time favorites. Great acting, breaktaking landscapes, wonderful music score and a moral message that we in this new century will never see the likes of again. This is pure entertainment from beginning to end. The struggles of growing up, first love kiss, a father's love for his wife and kids (rare these days)and the togetherness of the American family that no longer exist. If you need an education or weather you just want to watch a great older film this is the one for you and it is suitable for all ages which even the "G" rated films of today are questionable. You won't go wrong. You'll laugh and you'll cry and say I remember it well.
47 of 54 people found the following review helpful
By sherebiah
Format:VHS Tape
"Spencer's Mountain" , written by Earl Hamner, Jr. of "The Walton's" wrote this script in the 1950s and it shows. Like many of the Delmer Daves movies of this era, this film combines a Max Steiner score, great cinematography and a heart-tugging story from a more innocent America. This is a great movie to get lost in, enjoy, and have a good cry. I sit back and re-live this film at least once a year.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Anamorphic DVD
A good family film finally in anamorphic format. Henry Fonda at his best. A time when life was simpler and families closer.
Published 10 hours ago by EB White
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spencer's Mountain
Very good movie, enjoyed my watch. Getting error that I have to enter in 14 more words, that is stupid.
Published 5 days ago by Darlene E. B. Hines
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good
A good movie for older children since they hint at the birds & bee's. My 14 year old son liked it, but has grown up watching older movies.
Published 20 days ago by chrismytina
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Waltons" Mountain
Can really see the "Waltons" in this classic movie! They just dont make movies like this anymore! Suggest it to the hardcore Waltons fan! Thanks!
Published 27 days ago by Kay Bauer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Spencers and Waltons
Good movie, book was super too. This was a Waltons with namechange.Anyone who likes Waltons will enjoy this movie, and understand it.
Published 28 days ago by Laura Stevens
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just like I remembered
I love this movie. It's the movie the Walton's was based on and I remembered watching as a teenager with my dad. It was just as good as I remembered.
Published 1 month ago by Treasa
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spencer"s Mountain
This movie is a classic. You can't beat old Classics. I highly recommend for all family members. Need to buy it.
Published 1 month ago by Bridget A. Hogan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Movie
I think that this movie is where they got the idea for "WALTONS" . I think that it is a movie for all ages.
Published 1 month ago by Linda B Campion
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spencer's Mountain
I watched all of the Walton's Series and really loved it. I became curious as to how it began, and found out that this movie was from the original book written by Earl Hamner, Jr. Read more
Published 1 month ago by aehaley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spencer's Mountain
I very much enjoyed this movie. I also bought the paperback and liked that as well. I have enjoyed watching the Waltons since I was very young so it nice to watch how the series .
Published 1 month ago by Linda Lou
