Spencer's Mountain

Long before E. Annie Proulx put her cowboys up on Brokeback Mountain, Earl Hamner Jr. had his American family working the land of Spencer's Mountain. Hamner would later still turn this novel in to the long running television favorite THE WALTON's and it is he himself who narrates each episode. Though male lead Henry Fonda was not fond of this role (he is noted as having remarked the "script is so corny it will set American filmaking back twenty years") it stands out as one of his best and most endearing. As Clay Spencer he personifies the salt of the earth working man in perfect fashion. I imagine most of my age group will have seen this one as a kid on tv so I won't waste time going over the episodic story plots though I will say my favorite is when he gets the preacher spiffed. Maureen O'Hara is wonderful as always as the matriarch of the brood and look for a young Veronica Cartrwright as little Becky Spencer. At times a little over partiotic and tub-thumpy, you would do well to put your cynicism aside and enjoy the ride, either again or for the first time.