Friendly Persuasion (1956)
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100% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
78% of users liked it
(1,103 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
- Directed By
- William Wyler
- Written By
- Michael Wilson
- Genres
- Western, Drama, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1956 Wide
- Studio
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Exceptional Civil War-set story of religious differences.
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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.
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Daniel Eagan, Film Journal International
Heartwarming account of Quakers during the Civil War
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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.
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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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Cast
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Gary Cooper
as Jess Birdwell
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Dorothy McGuire
as Eliza Birdwell
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Anthony Perkins
as Josh Birdwell
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Marjorie Main
as Widow Hudspeth
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Robert Middleton
as Sam Jordan
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Richard Eyer
as Little Jess
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Phyllis Love
as Mattie Birdwell
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Peter Mark Richman
as Gard Jordan
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Walter Catlett
as Prof. Waldo Quigley
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Richard Hale
as Elder Purdy
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Joel Fluellen
as Enoch
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Theodore Newton
as Army Major
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John Smith
as Caleb
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Mary Carr
as Emma Quaker Woman
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Edna Skinner
as Widow Hudspeth's Daughter
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Marjorie Durant Dye
as Widow Hudspeth's Daughter
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Russell Simpson
as Elder
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Charles Halton
as Elder
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Everett Glass
as Elder
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James Anderson
as Poor Loser
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John Compton
as Rebel Lieutenant
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Chuck Courtney
as Reb Courier
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John Craven
as Leader
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James Dobson
as Rebel Soldier
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Richard Garland
as Bushwhacker
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Frank S. Hagney
as Lemonade Vendor
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Harry Hines
as Barker
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Earl Hodgins
as Shooting Gallery Operator
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Jean Innes
as Mrs. Purdy
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Tom Irish
as Young Rebel
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Mary Jackson
as Country Woman
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Frank Jenks
as Shell Game Man
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Diane Jergens
as Young Girl Elizabeth
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Donald Kerr
as Manager
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Helen Kleeb
as Old Lady
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Norman Leavitt
as Clem
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Nelson Leigh
as Minister
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John M. Pickard
as Ex-Sergeant
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Ivan Rasputin
as Billy Goat
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Henry Rowland
as O'Hara
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Ralph Sanford
as Businessman
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William Schallert
as Young Husband
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James Seay
as Rebel Captain
- Joe Turkel
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Steve Warren
as Haskell
