Review of Friendly Persuasion (1956) by Kevin R — 16 Mar 2016

She was tempted to lift a foot but she married me instead.

A Quaker family has a son and daughter in their teens and a little boy and a little girl. The world around them is changing and the Civil war is about to land on their doorstep. Their son along with other people in town will need to make decisions on joining the war. The Quaker teen daughter falls in love with one of the Union soldiers. The family will have to hold together strong as war approaches.

"Nothing can move me to violence.".

William Wyler, director of Roman Holiday, Ben-Hur, The Best Year of our Lives, Funny Girl, The Letter, A House Divided, Jezebel, and The Heiress, delivers Friendly Persuasion. The storyline for this picture is awesome and very well executed (it felt very much like Little Women). The script is marvelous and the acting is outstanding. The cast includes Gary Cooper, Dorothy McGuire, Anthony Perkins, and Richard Hale.

"There's an instrument that drive's up a man's worst passions.".

I came across this on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and had to DVR it. I loved Cooper in this movie and it reminded me of many of the townships I encountered in Pennsylvania growing up. The settings and subplots were awesome and I don't think anything about this could have been better. I strongly recommend this film.

"What has come into thee?".

Grade: A.