Customer Reviews

Spencer's Mountain [VHS]

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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.

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.

"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.

This is such a beautifully made film. It made me laugh (really hard), then had me on the verge of tears. This is a true look at rual America in the 40's (or was it the 30's). And for a movie made 40 years ago, it has some pretty smart dialogue. Spencer's son has this "loose" girlfreind who's always getting the poor guy in trouble. "Wannna get the dictionary and look up all the dirty words?" she asks the son while she tries (unsuccessfully) to seduce him in the town library. Don't get me wrong there is nothing vulgar about this film. It really is a family classic. Hnery Fonda is in peak form here. A REAL look at family life.

This wonderful family movie, filmed amid spectacular scenery, was based on a story which was the progenitor of Walton's Mountain. Warm, sometimes embarassingly sweet, it chronicles the lives of a family living among the Grand Tetons. Their challenges, their joys and their sorrows are all touched upon as Clay Boy, the oldest son in a large fanily, struggles to make a place for himself in the world. With stars like Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara at their family best, backed up with many other memorable character actors and actresses of a wide range of ages, they all add to the joy of this final product. A rare movie the entire family can enjoy. My favorite part: when Henry Fonda starts a fire in the old wood stove and Maureen O'Hara later takes out a huge pan of steaming biscuits as the entire clan prepares for a breakfast fit for a king (or queen).
I rate this charmer with 5 stars.

I have seen this film more times than I can count and I never get tired of watching it. I cry every time I watch it. A great family movie that really shows values and the way a family life should be. I reccommend this movie for anyone that values the old way of family. Very touching movie.

I loved this movie--Henry Fonda is wonderful as the hard-working, loving, commonsense father of nine children. Maureen O'Hara plays his wife and does a great job as a woman of faith who is constantly being challenged by the struggles of raising a large family with little income. It gives a beautiful portrait of a close-knit family whose members sacrifice freely for one another. A great family movie.

The story is very good. I've watched this movie countless times over the years and it never gets old.

This is good family entertainment, but it's also great for adults with some thought provoking ideas. Take those points and add to them the cast - it's not like watching actors, this is a clan - this cast knew their stuff. The scenery is beautiful. With all these things going for it, toss is some good humor and down to earth life lessons - it's a great movie!

It's about family life, keeping it all together, big families, small communites. It's about love and struggle and having it all - so long as you keep things in perspective. It's about keeping your word, being honorable, and rolling with the punches. It's got just about anything you could get into one movie without making a mess, this is wholesome with a good dose of sass.

Classic movie, a keeper.

Spencer's Mountain is good, wholesome entertainment!
What a wonderful world we'd live in if they made movies like this today without all the sex,violence, bad language and drugs!

This is a good, solid "family values" movie which parents can watch with their children. It does have its sappy, unrealistic moments, but that is to be expected of a movie of this time period (1963). There is some good acting; probably Henry Fonda's most happy-go-lucky role ever. I doubt that I will watch it again, but it was worth seeing.