Trouble Along the Way

source: Trouble Along the Way

Trailer—Trouble Along the Way

Trouble Along the Way

"Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" says Stephen Aloysius 'Steve' Williams (John Wayne). Not the only movie where Wayne coined a phrase but didn't get the credit for it. When he got the opportunity, John Wayne can play the complex roles this movie called for quite brilliantly. Sherry Jackson played a great part as the daughter in a custody battle. Marie Windsor, one of the 50 greatest American screen legends was outstanding as the ex-wife seeking custody getting custody cop (Donna Reed) to do her bidding. Coach Chuck Connors is great in his supporting role here. Charles Coburn put on a career performance as Father Matthew William Burke trying to save his school. Trouble Along The Way has it all and great directing from Michael Curtiz.

This was a John Wayne Film I hadn't seen before, and I was surprised that it was so good. Wayne played it nice and low key, with a bit of humor thrown in. There's a real chemistry between John Wayne and Donna Reed, who plays a social worker that is being used by Steve Williams' (Wayne) ex-wife to take his daughter away from him. But little Shirley Jackson really steals the show as Waynes wise-cracking tomboy daughter, Carol. (Who would have thought that little tomboy would grow up into one of the most beautiful women ever to be on film.) She reminded me of Lucy (Quinn Cummmings) in The Goodbye Girl. Charles Coburn is tops as usual, playing the old priest who is desperate to save his college, St. Anthonys, and he turns to Wayne for help. And a crew cut Chuck Conners has a small bit as one of coach Williams assistants. All around, a very entertaining film; which is no surprise with Michael Curtiz as the director.

John Wayne is an an out-of-business former football coach whom a college in financial trouble hires in order to make money with a successful sports team. The coache's little daughter (Sherry Jackson) grows up as a tomboy, which gives his divorced former wife a pretext for claiming legal custody of the child. These are the two issues around which the film revolves. Wayne gets together a winning team; at the same time, the welfare officer in charge of checking on how his daughter grows up (Donna Reed) gradually falls in love with him. The result is a picture that is pleasant enough but all in all less than exciting. The love story in particular is rather subdued, which is perhaps a good thing given the lack of chemistry between Reed and Wayne. In sum, this is a decent fim, well-made and on the whole well-acted but in no way exceptional.

This Michael Curtis directed film is kind of strangely titled. You could call it going out of the way for trouble. It has a lot of good things. The cast is one of those. Wayne is a down and out football coach whose career has had scandal at every step. Sherry Jackson is a delight as his daughter whom he has custody of though mom is taking him to court. Donna Reed is suitably ruthless and vulnerable as the probation officer who is trying to take the daughter. Charles Coburn is the Rector of St Anthony's college which is on a shoe string in financial trouble and in danger of being closed. Coburn is very good in the role as an old rector who maybe should retire. The film pulls at the heart strings and even though the script is a little faulty, the chemistry between the characters in the cast bring it off quite well. I don't think Wayne even throws a punch.

A bankrupt Catholic college hires struggling football coach Steve Williams (John Wayne) to help turn things around but he uses methods that are frowned upon. Meanwhile, Steve is going through a nasty custody battle, so the court sends an uptight social worker (Donna Reed) to assess what kind of father he is. Not surprisingly, the two develop feelings for each other. Wonderful change of pace for John Wayne. He didn't do many movies like this but he's really good in the part. Beautiful Donna Reed is excellent and has nice chemistry with Duke. Great supporting cast includes Charles Coburn, Tom Tully, Leif Erickson, Dabbs Greer, and Marie Windsor. Adorable Sherry Jackson plays Duke's daughter. Fine direction from Michael Curtiz. A sweet, heart-warming, dramatic film with some comic touches. One of the best and most underrated movies Duke did in his long career.

This is one John Wayne movie with which I was not familiar and with which his biography barely deals. While often stock & predictable, it is truly a heart-warming movie which nevertheless contains a rather frank expose and indictment of the "professionalism" present in college football. When one considers that when the movie was made, college football was MUCH bigger than professional football, it is amazing that the movie is so realistic in this regard.

One of the unknown minor masterpieces of Curtiz, and a very fine, well modulated performance by John Wayne.Its probably the best-and the frankest-film about college football ever put on the screen.Its rich in human interest and well acted by all the principals.