The Yearling

I don't know if the problem I had with this movie is that I was not able to capture the way movies were done in the past but I believe that this one did not miss to make use of any of the the fashionable conventions available in the 40s to make a film. If you don't have anything better to do my advise is not to watch this movie but to read a book or to go out for a walk.

I'm probably going to engender a lot of hate for my opinion on this one. I know it's one of the most beloved children's films of all time, but I found it terribly mawkish and boring. Most of my dislike for the film comes from the central performance of Claude Jarman Jr. I hate to say that, because I think he's fantastic in the cinematic adaptation of Faulkner's Intruder in the Dust, and he's perfectly good in John Ford's Rio Grande, too. But, as a 12 year-old actor in The Yearling, he comes off as functionally retarded. I'm guessing the kid in the original novel was younger than 12, but this kid doesn't look any younger than 12, and no 12 year-old kid should be this stupid, pioneer times or not. I'm also pretty sure he was having sex with the deer. I mean, look at the kid's face when he first finds it (I wish I had done a screen capture). And later he's sleeping with the deer, and his mom even says he smells like the thing. If I were her, I'd be checking his pubes for ticks. Gregory Peck and Jane Wyman, who play Jarman's parents, come off a lot better (both were nominated for Oscars), but they're saddled with some awful, faux-archaic dialogue. This film holds the records for the most uses of the word "taint" outside of a gay porno film. And Wyman can come off as an awful bitch sometimes. For good reason, I suppose. I'd be pretty mad that my 12 year-old son was so freaking stupid, too. Jarman's lucky she didn't take him out, too, Lenny-style. By the way, I absolutely love the IMDb trivia bit that says Wyman's real-life daughter wouldn't talk to her for two weeks after she saw the movie. The film also doesn't work for me because I grew up in a place where deer were plentiful - sure, I can enjoy Bambi, but real deer are about the most infuriating animal on the planet. They're vermin. Sure, the baby deer is cute, but as soon as the deer starts eating my corn, I'd turn it into venison tout suite.

Rightfully considered to be one of the premier family films of all time, this is a handsome adaptation of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings book about a Florida farm family surviving day-to-day hardships. Superbly directed by Clarence Brown, who brings the same "children's book" ambiance to the project as he did with "National Velvet". Well-acted and stunningly photographed on location (by Leonard Smith and Charles Rosher, who won Oscars). Young Claude Jarman, Jr. becomes attached to a troublesome baby deer, and his teary devotion is quite heart-rending. Some of the dialogue is fearsome, and, yes, it's a corny picture in an old-fashioned vein, however it is certainly worth-seeing, even for cynics. *** from ****

This is one of the great lost films. I run into ridicule every time I tell people it's one of my favourite films, but what a great film it is. It's got more treacle than Lyles, very sentimental and heart rendering, but I love it for that. It's also got one of the movie worlds most immortal lines when Ma Forester says of her recently deceased physically handicapped son "I lost ma boy!...ma poor crookedly boy". What a movie, takes me back every time. The essence of the main characters is perfectly portrayed by the main leads of Gregory Peck and Jayne Wyman, but Claude Jarman Jnr as Jody has a special place in my childhood. He plays the head-strong boy to perfection, with great depth and warmth. The Yearling will always live on.

This wonderful film is one of a handful that has the power to call me back to my childhood days and wrap me in warm memories of my Mom, Dad and little brother sitting around the television on Saturday night, watching the late show. From the opening scenes of this beautifully photographed movie I found myself caught-up in the intriguing post Civil War story of a boy and his pet faun and their fantastic adventures on a scruffy Florida Everglades farm. The film stars Gregory Peck, Jane Wyman and Claude Jarman in the lead roles, with some of Hollywood's best character actors in the supporting roles. Peck gives an Oscar caliber performance as the warmhearted father who does his best to make a better life for his family, with absolutely no help from the elements, which surround them. Jane Wyman brilliantly plays Orry, the hardened mother and wife who is so embittered by past tragedies in her life that she is unable to show any love for her one surviving child for fear of losing him as well. And Claude Jarman plays Jodie, the wistful young boy who is just one summer away from adolescence and all the emotional growing pains that come with it. This story is laced with excitement and adventure sure to please the kids, but each of the adventures is also a great lesson in life that will stay with them for years to come. The cinematography is spectacular and received a well-deserved Academy Award and the wildlife scenes are incredible as well. Just watching Jodie romp through the woods with his faun is a joyous site to behold. The way Orry finally begins letting herself love her son will bring tears to your eyes. This movie was one of the most emotional experiences of my young life and I believe I am a better person from the lessons learned here. I highly recommend this film, it is one to be experienced with your entire family.

source: The Yearling

Trailer—The Yearling

The Yearling

This movie so impressed me when I saw it in the '50s on TV, I immediately chose the book by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings for my first obligatory book report of my junior year in high school. It was also the first video I bought when I got a VCR. Now in my late sixties I can remember the name Claude Jarman, Jr. as the boy that I had identified with even though he was so different from me. I had watched it because it featured Gregory Peck as the father and I liked him, but it was Jarman's movie all the way. I was curious, too, to see Jane Wyman as all I knew about her was an unintentionally funny movie marquee I saw that proclaimed "Jane Wyman in The Blue Veil and selected shorts". This movie introduced me to Chill Wills. I found the killing of the fawn shattering even though I understood the necessity (equally devastating in the book). My father, mother, sister and I sat in front of the TV with tears rolling down our faces. I recommend both the video and the book.

I first viewed the 94 version of this movie and loved it so much that I had to see the original. A couple years have passed and I viewed this version in it's entirety and loved every moment! I then tried to watch the 94 version a couple hours later and found that it upset me. I will not say why now (because this comment is about this movie). Just bugs me that Hollywood today believes that people don't care about family life!!! I want to make a statement about this movie, and that is that it is FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!