The Romance of Rosy Ridge (1947)

Sadly Over-hyped

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

I viewed this film without any knowledge of its plot, story line, but only that it starred Van Johnson and introduced Janet Leigh, one of my favorite actresses. Purposely, I have always refrained from reading critics reviews or viewers comments as I have always found them interfering with the filmmakers intent and manner of cinematic storytelling. When the plot, especially the film's ending, is revealed it's tantamount to someone yelling "The butler did it!!!" I prefer the thrill of the writer, director and producer to display a film that will provide the utmost in entertainment. And that's exactly what they did for this wonderful motion picture.

Just two years after the end of WWII comes this film about the end of the American Civil War. The conflict pitted neighbors against neighbors and ill feelings persisted after the war, as the republic was trying to adapt to new laws and trying to forget old grudges. But some wanted to hang on to their prejudices and hatred.In the Missouri Ozarks lived a farming family like most--a father, mother, daughter and son. The elder son disappeared on the battlefields up north. Like the aftermaths of all prolonged wars, there was a shortage of manpower, and the crops needed to be harvested. How fortunate then that a stranger--tooting on a mouth organ just as happily as you please--wandered down the backroad to their farm on his way to no place in particular.Young Dean Stockwell plays the young son in his ninth film role, while daughter Lissy Anne is played by Janet Leigh in her film debut. She is perfect in her portrayal of the innocent farmer's daughter. In fact, the entire cast is just wonderful. Van Johnson is the stranger with a song on his lips, who brings an element of hope and happiness to the lives of those on the ridge.The writing captures the vernacular and the feelings of the country folk. The music--both incidental and performed--lays a perfect foundation for understanding their simple way of life. And the story is bursting with heart and sweet as the summer rain. This is a film worth seeing for its uncommon humanity.

Former MGM queen Norma Shearer was vacationing in the Sierras in California and at a ski lodge took notice of the owner's beautiful daughter. She thought that she ought to be in pictures and got her old friends at MGM to give her a look over. They did and signed the girl to a contract and Janet Leigh made her debut in The Romance of Rosy Ridge.During the Civil War both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis spent a lot of time worrying about the fate of those border states like Missouri where this story takes place. There was considerable public opinion for both sides and a lot of neighbors fought each other. Into one Missouri town comes stranger Van Johnson and helps out a Confederate family which lost a son, Marshall Thompson, during the Civil War. Father Thomas Mitchell is suspicious, but his wife Selena Royle and children Dean Stockwell and Janet Leigh take to Johnson right off.Of course Johnson takes to Leigh right off as well. The people of the area can't seem to reconcile because a whole lot of bad things keep happening and only to Confederate families. Someone has a vested interest in keeping the Civil War going long after Appomattox. I won't say any more about the plot, but film fans will take one look at the cast and know who's responsible for all the bad things. But also a secret about son Marshall Thompson is revealed before all are reconciled.The Romance of Rosy Ridge was an auspicious debut for Janet Leigh. You could easily tell what Norma Shearer saw when she served as talent scout for her former studio. Van Johnson gives Janet a lot of support here, very generously allowing her to gain maximum exposure, he seems to have made an effort not to steal any scenes. Van and Janet have a good cast of supporting players as well.The film has a kind of nostalgic quality like some of John Ford's work. It might have really been a classic had Ford been the director. It's still pretty good as is.

This film is set right after the civil war and somebody is going around burning barns. The people are still loyal and hate the other side. Thomas Mitchell is the father who fought for the south and so did his son but the son hasn't come home yet. Janet Leigh is the daughter and Dean Stockwell is their youngest son. Van Johnson is passing by one day and he winds up staying with them. Johnson and Leigh are attracted to each other but the father wants to know what side Johnson fought on. Johnson used to be a schoolteacher before the war and he wants to open a schoolhouse. It turns out that Johnson knows something about their son and when the father finds out Johnson fought for the north, he wants to kill him. This was Janet Leigh's first film and she's only OK but i have never liked Van Johnson but he's OK here.