Friendly Persuasion (1956)

100% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
79% of users liked it
(1,047 ratings)

Adapted from the best-selling novel by Jessamyn West, Friendly Persuasion is set in Southern Indiana in the early days of the Civil War. Gary Cooper plays Jess Birdwell, patriarch of a Quaker family which does not believe in warfare. Birdwell's son Josh (Anthony Perkins) wishes to adhere to his… More Adapted from the best-selling novel by Jessamyn West, Friendly Persuasion is set in Southern Indiana in the early days of the Civil War. Gary Cooper plays Jess Birdwell, patriarch of a Quaker family which does not believe in warfare. Birdwell's son Josh (Anthony Perkins) wishes to adhere to his family's pacifism, but is afraid that if he doesn't sign up for military service, he'll prove to be a coward. Josh joins the Home Guard, which disturbs his mother Eliza (Dorothy McGuire). But Jess Birdwell realizes that his son must follow the dictates of his own conscience. Josh proves his courage to himself when he is wounded during a Rebel raid, while the elder Birdwell is able to stay faithful to his religious calling by not killing a Southern soldier when given both a chance and a good reason to do so. Allegedly, writer Jessamyn West nearly scotched her deal with producer/director William Wyler and distributor Allied Artists when Gary Cooper, taking his fans into consideration, insisted upon including a scene in which he forsakes his pacifism and takes arms against the Rebels. If true, then wiser heads prevailed, since no such scene exists in the final release print. Though uncredited due to his status as a blacklistee, Michael Wilson wrote the screenplay for Friendly Persuasion--and even won an Oscar nomination. Also nominated was the film's chart-busting theme song, "Thee I Love" (by Dmitri Tiomkin and Paul Francis Webster). The story was remade as a 2-hour TV pilot film in 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 20 min.
Directed By: William Wyler
Written By: Michael Wilson
Genres: Western, Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1956 Wide
On DVD: Dec 5, 2000
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Exceptional Civil War-set story of religious differences.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
In Wyler's Civil War drama, Gary Cooper's most popular film of the 1950s, the star plays his quinessential role, a pacifist family man who needs to probe his soul before using physical violence.
Daniel Eagan, Film Journal International
Heartwarming account of Quakers during the Civil War
Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide
Warm, gently satiric portrait of a family of the "Friendly persuasion" living in the shadow of the Civil War… does justice neither to Quakerism nor to just-war theory, but its warm affection for its subjects makes it worthwhile viewing.
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
A big, colorful, entertaining movie that could only have been made in the 1950s.

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

This movie is very predictable, and sometimes boring, but the drama is pretty intense, especially towards the end, and there are good actors in this movie too.
jay n

Lovely small quite film
cody f

This film is about a family of Quakers who struggle with their beliefs during the Civil War. It's interesting to see how the Quakers lived and their religious beliefs. The film goes into great detail on this and you realize how horrible it would be to be a Quaker. At times the… More
This film is about a family of Quakers who struggle with their beliefs during the Civil War. It's interesting to see how the Quakers lived and their religious beliefs. The film goes into great detail on this and you realize how horrible it would be to be a Quaker. At times the movie is too cute with too many rear projections(the CGI of the 50's) The acting is great (Cooper does his aw shucks character) and the story is a good one. The film gets real good when the war is in their back yard and they must choose between protecting themselves or follow their religion and do nothing.
Anthony V

A classic.

Cast

            Gary Cooper as Jess Birdwell

            Dorothy McGuire as Eliza Birdwell

            Anthony Perkins as Josh Birdwell

            Marjorie Main as Widow Hudspeth

            Robert Middleton as Sam Jordan

            Richard Eyer as Little Jess

            Phyllis Love as Mattie Birdwell

            Peter Mark Richman as Gard Jordan

            Walter Catlett as Prof. Waldo Quigley

            Richard Hale as Elder Purdy

            Joel Fluellen as Enoch

            Theodore Newton as Army Major

            John Smith as Caleb

            Mary Carr as Emma Quaker Woman

            Edna Skinner as Widow Hudspeth's Daughter

            Marjorie Durant Dye as Widow Hudspeth's Daughter

            Russell Simpson as Elder

            Charles Halton as Elder

            Everett Glass as Elder

            James Anderson as Poor Loser

            John Compton as Rebel Lieutenant

            Chuck Courtney as Reb Courier

            John Craven as Leader

            James Dobson as Rebel Soldier

            Richard Garland as Bushwhacker

            Frank S. Hagney as Lemonade Vendor

            Harry Hines as Barker

            Earl Hodgins as Shooting Gallery Operator

            Jean Innes as Mrs. Purdy

            Tom Irish as Young Rebel

            Mary Jackson as Country Woman

            Frank Jenks as Shell Game Man

            Diane Jergens as Young Girl Elizabeth

            Donald Kerr as Manager

            Helen Kleeb as Old Lady

            Norman Leavitt as Clem

            Nelson Leigh as Minister

            John M. Pickard as Ex-Sergeant

            Ivan Rasputin as Billy Goat

            Henry Rowland as O'Hara

            Ralph Sanford as Businessman

            William Schallert as Young Husband

            James Seay as Rebel Captain

            Joe Turkel
            
            Steve Warren as Haskell
See full cast