MovieChat Forums > The Romance of Rosy Ridge (1947) Discussion > A simple, decent, human + humane film yo...

A simple, decent, human + humane film you'll enjoy


No spoilers here:

I'm just writing this in hopes someone will read it out of curiosity or perhaps
because they're considering watching it. Please do.

I saw this movie on late nite TV a long time ago and have seen it a couple
times since. It came at a time of great cynicism in my life and yet left me
feeling a better person for watching it. No, it's not Five Stars or anything
that will be on anybody's Top Ten List. But it is sure worth your time.

The writers make many comments on human character Good & Bad but do so
without being preachey. It emphasizes individual worth and community effort
in the face of what can be a hard life at times. Many here have commented
on the acting and story but I want to add that cinefilm photography buffs
can also find stuff to like. Early in there movie there is a beautifully shot
scene where the stranger and the principal family must stop arguing and race
like devils to try to bring in as much as possible of their harvest
as a terrible thunderstorm prepares to blow down destructively on their fields.
It is very well lensed and edited.

Again, no Oscars here - but if you took the time to read this I hope you'll
check it out.

- Andrew

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I just saw this movie on TCM tonight and was very pleasantly surprised at the story and the acting. I thought I had guessed the ending but there was a twist to it that I didn't expect.

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I can't help but think William Faulkner might have worked on the script. The writing credits are just for the story. The dialogue is too good. "Just cause a man's educated doesn't mean he can't be smart too."

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As a big Van Johnson fan, I watch this whenever I can. He's really good in this and while I know all the songs he does in the movie get some criticism, he had a pleasant singing voice and (I think) he played the banjo parts too. As a bonus, he and his stuntman do a great job in the knock-down fight with the nasty Badge Dessark of Jim Davis. The rest of the cast is good too, it's too bad that Marshall Thompson didn't get more screen time as Ben. It's hard to believe this was Janet Leigh's first movie, she does a good job.

It's a well made film, done at MGM studios and Sonora near the Sierra Nevadas. A solid 7/10 for me.

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