Moviecut—The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

source: The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

My mother saw this movie when she was twelve and wanted to see it again. I bought it and we both watched it. The story line and action, along with the beautiful color was well worth the price. If others did not know, this movie was the first full length feature film in color.

Only yesterday i was watching an old sitcom "My 3 Sons' starring Fred. I noticed that the teacher's role was played by Sidney...and right away I made the connection to this film, when my big sister took me to the movies. It was my first viewing of a Technicolor movie and as a kid I was anxious to see "Spanky". It was too grown up for me at 8 years old to absorb the story line. I was more taken with the color, Spanky and the song they kept playing throughout. I liked the song and recall, the theater showed a Popeye comedy which was in color also, and the hit song that was played in it was "Did You ever see a Dream Walking, well I did"...I also noticed that my sister and her boyfriend were smooching on sneaks...LOL

Based on a celebrated novel, this Western focuses on a love triangle against the backdrop of feuding families. This has the historic distinction of being the first Technicolor film shot outdoors. It looks great. Unfortunately, the script is weak and preachy and the acting is uneven. Hathaway would go on to make some fine films but here the pacing is lethargic and, despite the good cast, much of the acting is over-the-top. Sidney and Bondi are especially guilty of over emoting. Fonda's is a one-note performance. MacMurray does OK. McFarland is cute as Sidney's little brother. Fonda and Sidney would fare better the following year in Fritz Lang's "You Only Live Once."

I saw this movie when I was 15 years old and never forgot it; I now have a copy of it and watch it often and enjoy it as much as when it first came out in 1936.

The film, shot mostly outdoors, starts out a bit dated. (Sylvia Sydney and family come across slightly comic...) But then...one gets caught up in the real agony of these fictionalized Hatfield and McCoy families... They've feuded and murdered each others...for years. Beulah Bondi (the mom) is the visual barometer of this murderous situation. She, almost like an inner city mom of a teen male, expects the bullet which will take out her beloved family member (young Henry Fonda). SPOILER: Spanky McFarland is the charming little boy who is the center of attention...and his later death sparks the agonizing actions of the main characters. Recommended: Suitable for family viewing...for any film buffs of old time quality color movies---and for schools/homeschools where they wish to discuss a quality film about unforgiveness, unresolved hate, and the damage it does to later generations.

A true gem from the thirties, this marvelous picture about a endless hatred between two families around high mountains of Virginia, an unsolved matter told in this famous colorful movie, the trio Henry Fonda, Fred Macmurray and Syilvia Sidney are a sub plot of a love triangle, the fine actor Nigel Bruce shines like always as a remarkable funny character, but who stolen the show was the little boy Spanky as a smart one, the both feuds in clash here even know when it started and how it will end neither, terrible things gonna happen, the coal extracted of these mountains will be a triggerering event to restart such animosities again, the resoundind final scenes should be a subject matter of cinema's study for forthcoming generations of filmakers, TheTrail of Lodesome Pine was and still has a nostalgic charming even after almost a century!!! Resume: First watch: 2018 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 8.5

The Trail of the Lonesome Pine is a beautiful tear-jerker.The characters are simple and honest. The setting is in hill-billy country. The simple folk there are trying to prevent a railroad running through their area and upsetting their way of life. To add to their stress is a continual family feud. In this movie we see the best and the worst in people. The acting is top-notch. A handkerchief is a must for this movie.