This is a very good movie. I only saw it once at the theater when if first came out and I haven't forgot about it at all. In my opinion this was one of Jimmy Stewart's best roles. Why isn't it on DVD or at least video?
shareI was born and raised in Moundsville, WV which is where this movie was made. I was in high school and still remember the excitement here as the stars began to arrive and filming started. A lot of local residents were used as extras in the movie. Mr. Stewart and most of the cast were very gracious to the fans who gathered at the various locations every day. They signed hundreds of autographs and posed for countless pictures every day.
shareThe premier for this movie was held in Wheeling,WV. I was in my early 20's at the time. There was a huge parade before the opening. Most of the stars were there.
shareDon't know, coz it is one of my favourite 'Westerns'. I was so taken with this movie that I remember audiotaping it so that I could go about my house reciting the lines (and this is at the same time I was supposed to be studying at university).I like all the characters, but have a special regard for Jimmy Stewart, Strother Martin, and George Kennedy. And I thought Kathy Cannon was pretty hot!
What more can I say, it's a very underrated film with a strong story, great dialogue, excellent characters (and characterisation), and a good deal of charm.
Adios!
I saw this when I was about 16.
I thought it was terrific, a beautiful pic that I never forgot.
Can't altogether explain why; I suspect there was a highly spiritual side to it, in the treatment of redemption, good and evil.
The goodness of the characters is touching, with an innocence that we don't often see today.
Just great, completely under-rated.
I agree completely. Same deal. I saw it originally, once, at the theatre and never forgot it but it seems most people have. Even when Jimmy Stewart died and numerous networks and such where showing his various great films, I never heard them mention FOOLS PARADE. Add in the supporting cast of George Kennedy and Struther Martin with some great lines ("I don't like boys") and this to me, was a fantastic film.
shareI grew up in Moundsville, WV and spent many days taking tours of the old WV Penitentary. Throughout my many tours, tour guide after tour guide explained that Anne Baxter didn't like the way the portrayal/development of her character in this movie panned out. Supposedly, she (and after her death, her family) refused to release the rights to Fools' Parade.
There are some DVDs/videos floating around out there...but they're few and far between.
That's really about all I know? I hope it helped!
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Yep, just watched it. Not one of Stewart's or Kennedy's best movies, but they both gave good performances.
shareThank you for providing some local insight into the mystery. TCM aired this movie earlier today. I never saw or heard of this movie until today. This entry regarding Anne Baxter might explain why. I also just looked at the Penitentary website. Next time I'm in West Virginia I'll have to take the tour.
http://www.wvpentours.com/
I've also just watched this movie today for the first time and have to agree with the whole that I was a bit surprised this movie is as "forgotten" as it is. Then again the pleasure is almost double when knowing little gems like this aren't as widely known as they should be, as far as I'm concerned.
shareI'm glad to see that this movie was filmed near my home town , i'm not a very big cowboy movie fan but when my father said he was an extra in the movie i really wanted to watch it but i have'nt, it has'nt been on AMC that i know of or TCM , i dont even know if netflix would have it..
shareOne of the Encore channels plays it from time to time.
shareAsk yourselves, if Anne Baxter had the clout to halt the distribution of a major studio release because she was displeased with her on-camera appearance, why didn't she have the clout to change that appearance while she was shooting the movie? No, I'm afraid that explanation sounds highly implausible, to say the least. I doubt that the Anne Baxter of the 40's and 50's, (her heyday), would have had that kind of clout, and by the 70's she certainly didn't.
Mind you, she was a very nice lady, the one time I met her, (at the reception after the memorial for Raymond Massey).
As a lifelong admirer of the writings of Davis Grubb, (I wrote a book about the filming of THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER), I'm glad FOOLS' PARADE was filmed so sincerely and with such a top notch cast; and while to me it falls short of the great movie which should have been made from the novel, (I think the first act on the train is terrific, the rest is uneven), it's gratifying to read that so many of you have come to appreciate the virtues of FOOLS' PARADE.
But I'm afraid we'll have to look elsewhere for the solution to the mystery of the film's invisibility on DVD.
I watched it for the first time today, and I thought it was just O.K. It was just a bit too clownish for me (and I don't mean just Anne Baxter). I think it's imdb rating is about right.
shareBig Jimmy Stewart fan and usually his laid back, everyman, manner works for him.
But a few smaller films the act just comes across as too slow. For me it never clicked. I mean Harvey is slow going but still works. Maybe it's the tone of the story more than Stewart. Still that didn't play to his strengths here. No loss since he gave so many wonderful films. Not like this is 'bad' or anything.
Perhaps the Hollywood moguls did not net enough cash?Check box office/budget.even after write offs for investors.
shareSeems like a lot of us had the same experience. I saw it on TV once, maybe twice, in the Seventies, when I was in my teens, and have treasured the memory ever since. Truly one of the lost treasures of the Silver Age. Colorful characters, great period flavor, engaging story. And I think Stewart is far better here than in "Harvey" (in which his performance is vastly overrated).
I've heard the Anne Baxter story, too. It doesn't take "clout" to file a lawsuit--just a sharp lawyer. And since the movie wasn't all that successful, it probably was less expensive for the studio to let it languish in legal limbo than to fight the suit. If that's the case, somebody would be performing a great service by appealing to Baxter's family, the studio, or whoever it would take to get this gem back before the public.
I don't think there's an embargo on this movie; it's on Retroplex right now (8:15 pm EDT, 05/30/2015).
shareFOOL'S PARADE is being shown on the MOVIES channel--check their site to see when they'll show it again, which they usually do. Cool to see the late great George Kennedy and an incredibly young Kurt Russell in it,though.
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