I am a sucker for gentle, sentimental films from Hollywood's Golden Age; "I Remember Mama" and "The Human Comedy" are two of my all-time favorites. Thus, I was prepared to fall in love with "Our Vines", but after about 40 minutes, I couldn't WAIT for it to end.
Yes, Edward G. is wonderful. But the film is so interminably slow and listless---it just meanders aimlessly. The other two great films I mention above are able to take the most seemingly insignificant details of everyday life and transform them into emotionally compelling, lovely vignettes that reveal the true depth of humanity in simple, understated ways. But "Our Vines" relies heavily on the relationship between Margaret O'Brien (very good if a tad too cute) and the wearying screen presence of the semi-talented Butch Jenkins. Hate to admit it, but when the kids climbed into that old bathtub and started rowing, I said "let's head for the waterfall and END this thing."
Similarly, the dull romance between James Craig and his lady can't BEGIN to compare to the charming and ultimately moving relationship between Craig (in a very similar role) and the ravishing Marsha Hunt in "The Human Comedy". Not even close.
Actually, I like the Christmas/church scene in "Our Vines" quite a bit, and thought that little Margaret's lengthy reading was charming and sincere.
But the moment (early on) in the film when we first see Morris Carnovsky's new barn, you know that it is doomed. That's fine, if the rest of the plot justifies the destruction. But for the screenplay writer to take the easy way out and use the sensational, somewhat shocking and rather cruel fire scene to suddenly add emotional weight to his otherwise aimless film is viewer manipulation of the worst kind. And, to boot, it looked like those horses were put through some pretty traumatic abuse to film the scene. I really did not like this AT ALL.
I noticed at least one reviewer stating that Margaret O Brien's generous act in the final scene smacked of communism. Really? Communism involves intimidation and coercion by a centralized government. What Margaret did was an example of the true "Civil Society" as envisioned by our American Founding Fathers, where people help one another of their own free will.
Too bad the rest of the film didn't measure up to this finale.
Sorry....I really wanted to like this one.
LR
Yes, Edward G. is wonderful. But the film is so interminably slow and listless---it just meanders aimlessly. The other two great films I mention above are able to take the most seemingly insignificant details of everyday life and transform them into emotionally compelling, lovely vignettes that reveal the true depth of humanity in simple, understated ways. But "Our Vines" relies heavily on the relationship between Margaret O'Brien (very good if a tad too cute) and the wearying screen presence of the semi-talented Butch Jenkins. Hate to admit it, but when the kids climbed into that old bathtub and started rowing, I said "let's head for the waterfall and END this thing."
Similarly, the dull romance between James Craig and his lady can't BEGIN to compare to the charming and ultimately moving relationship between Craig (in a very similar role) and the ravishing Marsha Hunt in "The Human Comedy". Not even close.
Actually, I like the Christmas/church scene in "Our Vines" quite a bit, and thought that little Margaret's lengthy reading was charming and sincere.
But the moment (early on) in the film when we first see Morris Carnovsky's new barn, you know that it is doomed. That's fine, if the rest of the plot justifies the destruction. But for the screenplay writer to take the easy way out and use the sensational, somewhat shocking and rather cruel fire scene to suddenly add emotional weight to his otherwise aimless film is viewer manipulation of the worst kind. And, to boot, it looked like those horses were put through some pretty traumatic abuse to film the scene. I really did not like this AT ALL.
I noticed at least one reviewer stating that Margaret O Brien's generous act in the final scene smacked of communism. Really? Communism involves intimidation and coercion by a centralized government. What Margaret did was an example of the true "Civil Society" as envisioned by our American Founding Fathers, where people help one another of their own free will.
Too bad the rest of the film didn't measure up to this finale.
Sorry....I really wanted to like this one.
LR