Friendly Persuasion (1956)
Director: William Wyler
Writers: Jessamyn West, Michael Wilson
Stars: Gary Cooper, Dorothy McGuire, Anthony Perkins
Runtime:137 minutes
Plot: The pacifist attitude of a Quaker family is tested as a result of the American Civil War.
Review: The story of a Quaker family in southern Indiana during the Civil War making for a winning motion picture in which a spurt of stirring drama and suspense would top off a natural abundance of comedy and charm? The likelihood of such a setup was hard to foresee. Yet William Wyler has come up with just this surprise. And what is more, he has brought it to life with a touching display of the nobility of man.
Inspired by a lovely group of stories by Jessamyn West, Mr. Wyler has brought forth a picture that is loaded with sweetness and warmth. While top honours go to the performances of Mr. Cooper and Miss McGuire, who are wonderfully spirited and compassionate, a great deal of admiration must go to Anthony Perkins as Josh. He makes the older son of the Birdwells a handsome, intense and chivalrous lad. Richard Eyer is delightful and natural as the rambunctious Little Jess, while Phyllis Love is electrical as Mattie and Mark Richman is nice as her suitor, Gard.
As they put it in "Friendly Persuasion," thee should be pleasured by this film.
Reviewed by Mohaiminul Islam
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