Review: The Yearling
Claude
Jarman Jr. is Jody, an 11 year-old only child to loving Pa (Gregory Peck) and
the more distant, hardened Ma (Jane Wyman). Living in the 19th
century Florida wilderness, his existence isn’t rich with friends, but he loves
nature and all of its critters. He becomes particularly taken with a fawn, whom
he wishes to make his pet. Ma is extremely disapproving of the idea, but Pa
helps win her over. However, Jody is about to learn just how difficult it is to
look after a pet, especially one that is wild and untamed. Forrest Tucker,
Henry Travers, and Chill Wills play townsfolk, whilst Donn Gift plays Jody’s
only childhood friend, the ailing Fodderwing.
The
weepy, wet performance by Claude Jarman Jr. will be a bit much for some and the
cynical and hard of heart need not apply, but otherwise you just can’t hate
this 1946 family movie from director Clarence Brown (“Intruder in the Dust”,
the underrated “Song of Love”). Adapted by Paul Osborn (“East of
Eden”, “Sayonara”) from the novel by Marjorie Kinnan, if you see
only one ‘boy and his pet’ movie, make it this one, which also doubles as a
coming-of-age story of fathers and sons. One of the best weepies ever made,
this might just be the best live-action Disney movie that Disney never made.
You’ll be amazed that this one’s from MGM and not the House of Mouse,
especially with what sounds like typical Disney choral music in the excellent
score by Herbert Stothart (“The Three Musketeers”).
One
thing I love about the film is that there’s a slight otherworldly or folktale
oddness to it through Donn Gift’s peculiar, sickly Fodderwing. There’s
something haunting and oddly touching about him. Some may find the character a
touch too much like a heightened author’s construct, but to me it gives the
film an extra something beyond what is a pretty simple story. It’s a
gorgeous-looking film full of all kinds of animals throughout, and the film has
a perfectly captured sense of place and characters.
I
said earlier that Claude Jarman’s performance will divide people, and I’m
personally not enamoured with his weepy, squirmy performance. However, you have
to remember that the character has few friends, and Jarman was a damn kid at
the time. Some slack cutting is in order there. Much better is Gregory Peck.
Peck almost feels like your dad. His masculinity was different to the Charlton
Hestons, Burt Lancasters, John Waynes, Kirk Douglas’, and even Errol Flynns of
the world. Although rather large and perfectly capable in a fight, he was
generally reasoned, tolerant, wise, paternal, and sometimes even a pacifist to
an extent (“The Big Country” specifically). Here he plays a strong,
loving paternal figure who is up there with Atticus Finch in being the
‘perfect’ screen dad. Peck may not have had the most range as an actor, but he
was damn good at playing Gregory Peck-types, and had an innate decency and
quiet authority that just couldn’t be faked. His character is also essential in
leading his son on the right path. Otherwise you’ve got the hardened Jane Wyman
on the one hand, and dreamer Fodderwing on the other. Peck’s ‘Pa’ is the much
needed balance for a kid at such a crucial stage in his development as a
man/human being.
Jane
Wyman, one of the most beautiful and open-faced actresses in cinematic history
is effectively cast against type as the boy’s hardened, cynical, harsh, but
ultimately well-meaning mother. This woman has a lot of sadness and jadedness
inside her that she just can’t help. It’s a bit of a shame that solid character
actors Henry Travers and Chill Wills just play townies here in virtual cameos,
but it’s understandable. This is a film about a boy, his parents, and his
unwieldy new ‘pet’. All other characters are fairly superfluous. Although it’s
known for being a sad film, there are still moments of humour. There’s a
genuinely funny bit where the kid catches his father in a rather compromising
(or at least unusual and embarrassing) position, that you’ll just have to see
for yourself.
A
great family movie and terrific weepie, but also a particularly great
father-son story. This kid has a great role model to learn from in his father,
and Gregory Peck couldn’t be more perfectly cast as the dad we’d all be happy
to have as our own. Cynics need not apply.
Rating:
B+
Comments
Post a Comment