if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Dullsville. True, the sound track presents a typically lush, sprightly music score by Max Steiner — though it often sounds like the orchestra is jacking up on old Max and not giving the score their best shot. Anything but. A group of tired, untalented hack musicians saw away to little effect. About the only time they really come to life is when they strum out "Gaudeamus Igitur" for the Fonda-in-college scene.Fortunately, Nothing can spoil Charles Lawton and Hans Koenekamp's lovely location photography (except, of course, lousy TV prints — but then no jokers in their right minds would watch a Panavision picture on the telly anyway, would they?) but all this wealth of beauty is wasted on an uninvolving, tedious-to-the-core script.Cast in a central role, the studiously dull James MacArthur makes his characterization even more ho-hum. Not that Fonda is all that ingratiating either, but at least he plays with a commendable professionalism that lends his role at least some degree — however slight — of charisma.The rest of the players fail to come up to even Fonda's mark. True Wally Cox is miscast and it's probably not Donald Crisp's fault that he is unable to surmount the dramatic problems involved when the cretinous old codger is silly enough to walk straight into the path of a falling tree. What should have been a moving scene is presented instead as an incredible piece of stupidity on the old dope's part.Despite all these drawbacks, plus the routine, uninspired and largely disinterested direction of Delmer Daves, occasionally the sort of movie "Spencer's Mountain" was obviously meant to be, shines through. Like right at the beginning, with all the nature footage described by Fonda off-camera; and right at the end, when the cowpoke at the back of the bus turns to MacArthur and asks, "How far are you going', son?" and the lad replies, "Right far!" But in between these two high-points lies a mountain of muddled characterizations, unsure playing, and incredible incident straight out of any dime-store novel.

When you see Donald Crisp sitting at the head of the table, you immediately think of the strong family ties shown in his memorable "How Green Was My Valley," which also starred Maureen O'Hara. Yes, we have a loving family with strong ties here in this film, but the characters are so stilted.The story almost boils down to a similar 1945's "The Corn is Green," a memorable Bette Davis and John Dall film depicting a brilliant student facing hurdles to pursue a higher education. Ditto here with James MacArthur as such another student with the same problem- poverty. His dedicated teacher, Virginia Gregg, the "nurse" in I'll Cry Tomorrow, who gave Susan Hayward her first drink.Henry Fonda heads a fine cast but the writing is of lackluster quality. Imagine, MacArthur learns sufficient Latin to gain admission to college over a summer period. Please.

It was interesting reading the other reviews of this film. Clearly, some viewers have forgotten what life was like in 1950s in rural America. No, there's nothing controversial in this film, and I think that's why some see it as a white-wash. But I knew people in my hometown that were just about like these folks. In fact, as I sat watching this film, I kept thinking that the portrayals here were "real". It's a simple story, really, although so simple that one of our reviewers couldn't grasp it -- the story of a poor boy struggling to get to college at a time when not virtually everyone went to college. As the first boy in my very large extended family to go to college, I can understand this. This is real life...not dramatic life. The performances by Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara are superb, James MacArthur is excellent, and it's nice to see revered character actor Donald Crisp is what was his last film role, although he lived for another decade. As to the criticism that the other roles were not as well developed here as in "The Waltons", this is a 2 hour movie, not a 9 year television series! And to top everything off, the frosting on the cake is the snow-capped Grand Tetons where the movie was filmed. Absolutely top notch all the way.Additionally, it was nice seeing Wally Cox is a more substantial role than we usually see him in.This film was directed by Delmer Daves. Daves had an interesting directorial career, particularly in regard to his move to more teen-romantic films in the 1960s. This film is not that, although there is an element of it within the plot.This is top notch entertainment, and frankly, I have a hard time thinking of a film where Henry Fonda so masterfully portrayed a character...and that's saying a lot!

I don't know what the other guy was talking about, but I found this movie to be great. Henry Fonda as the head of the family was jovial, but stern. Maureen O'Hara was her usual tough, but beautiful leading lady. The story was engaging, the scenery is breath-taking, and makes one yearn for those old films that made going to the movies an event, something really special. I'm also glad it's finally out on DVD, as my pan and scan VHS copy isn't the greatest. Plot-wise, it followed the life of the Spencer family and their many adventures, if you will. The plots weren't all over the place, it was just documenting the various happenings in the Spencer family. Anyone with a heart will love this movie!