Spencer's Mountain Movie

[anne]

I've wanted to speak about this movie for a long time. I've watched it 3 or 4 times, and feel like I know it well.
This movie is a terrible movie for families, especially those with teenage or younger children.
The sexual content is present from the beginning to the end. I watched it because of Earl Hamner. The sexual language and sexual references are all over the place.
I loved The Walton's, and didn't see Spencer's Mountain until many years after The Walton's ended.
Maybe I compared them too much, but does anyone else feel the same as I do?
I gave away my copy of this movie, and will never watch it again. Not a family film.

[Deleted]

What? It is very much a family film.

[Tracey]

You've got me lost and there is something wrong with you. This is totallly a family show with Henry Fonda, Maureen O'Hara and James MacArthur. I've seen it so many times and love it..

[john8486]

I don't completely disagree about the family value of Spencer's Mountain. If you watch the scene with Clay-Boy and his girlfriend in the town library, there is plenty of overtones in that scene. The part of the girlfriend is a very "aggressive" character. In fact, if you watch the 8 part interview with Mr. Hamner on YouTube, he mentions that, and does voice his concern with the movie in regards to some of the overtones.
But I also had questions about the movie in another way. Now, I have not read the book Spencer's Mountain, I am still attempting to obtain a copy, but my understanding of the Spencer/Walton story was of Mr.Hamner's growing up during the Depression. Spencer's scenery certainly is not from the Depression. If you look at the actors clothing and especiallly the automobiles, they are more of a late 1940's - 1950's era I believe. I do think the overall tone of the movie espoused family values as far as taking care of family, hard work, etc. This is all of course, just my humble opinion.

[Deleted]

Okay, there are some goofy scenes in the movie that might make some people uncomfortable I am thinking of the scene that surround the topic of sex, such as getting the cow bred and Clayboy's girl friend demonstrating physical education. However, all of it is in the context of marriage. I do not think that anything is wrong with a person just because they state their opinion.

[anne]

I also like the actors in Spencer's Mountain, with the exception of Clay-Boy's girlfriend. (Is she really??) Maybe I should have said that in my previous post.
Some of the advice Clay-Boy gets from his father is wonderful.
It's just not a movie I would have thought Earl Hamner would approve of overall. Way too much other than G-rating material. Sometimes words and overtones are as bad as visual sexual content.
Did Earl Hamner really have girls speak to him like that, or was it really just fiction? I know a lot of the Walton's was fiction mixed in with reality.
Makes for good stories for some people I guess.
I don't watch much tv now either. Haven't been to the movies in years. Lots of trash.

[wetherwacky]

I don't think even Earl Hamner is one to judge the movie's 'overtones' when the book itself, that he wrote, is just as bad concering explicit content. I read the book, right up almost until the end. I quit when Clay-boy and I-forget-her-name got to the top of the mountain.

[Deleted]

Aug 28, 2009 8:44:33 GMT -5 wetherwacky said:

I don't think even Earl Hamner is one to judge the movie's 'overtones' when the book itself, that he wrote, is just as bad concering explicit content. I read the book, right up almost until the end. I quit when Clay-boy and I-forget-her-name got to the top of the mountain.

You actually put the book down and stopped reading? Why? Oh, yeah.....what did you call it in another post ~ nonsense!! Seems kinda closed minded to me!! Gonna have to check out your blog to see what kinda nonsense your blogging about!

K, I'm back from reading some on your blog! So you have it all figured out and you are what? SEVENTEEN and HOMESCHOOLED!!! Nothing wrong with either BUT trust me when I say you don't have it all figured out! You talk about history and basically watching it unfold ~ why not learn to live some and maybe then you can expand your conservative views! The world is much bigger than you and you might be shocked but here goes ~ when compared to all the rest of the world ~ you young man, are in the minority!!

[Brenda]

The first time I watched Spencer's Mountain, I was in high school, and I watched it on the recommendation of one of my teachers. I thought it was a wonderful movie, and I immediately went to the library and found the book so I could read it too. I think the book is much better, by the way, as is usually the case when a movie is based upon a book.

I don't remember noticing a lot of sexual language and references in either the movie or the book. I enjoyed it for its theme: parents who were willing to sacrifice everything they owned so that their children could have a better life.

With everything that kids are exposed to on TV and movies these days, I would think any parent would be happy for their child to sit down and watch a movie like Spencer's Mountain. Just my opinion.

Brenda

[Deleted]

Sex is not bad, it is how we all got here.

[anne]

We have been conditioned to think that certain things in movies and on tv are normal. Yes, some old movies are explicit, but tv especially now seems to know no limits as far as sex and its privacy.
Just because we all got here because of it, doesn't mean it should appear before our eyes in almost everything we see on tv or at the movies.

[myrtle]

Oh God I would hate to be your child if i was so sheltered that I couldn't watch Spencers Mountain! It's totally harmless and very innocent.

What about musicals and songs like "i'm just a girl who can't say no".?? Sexual innuendo but harmless.

You would have to be incredibly prudish to find spencers mountain offensive.

[anne]

I realize that this forum probably isn't the place to voice opposition to anything Earl Hamner. I just wanted to see if anyone else noticed the things I did in Spencer's Mountain.
Some of the movie is ok. Little sister Patty Cake is precious. Clay-Boy clearly loves her. They are a close family.
I still won't watch it though because of the reasons I gave before. It would have been a wonderful family film otherwise.

[myrtle]

H, it's certainly nothing to do with being a blinded by loyalty fan. I have never hated anything like I did the stupid poltergeist episode! But I was having trouble understanding your logic. There was nothing offensive in the book or film. Some harmless and very tastefully dealt with innuendo and suggestion. That was it. The stuff that would go over a childs head unless they were old enough to understand it.

Talking to grandparents and great grandparents or even just watching documentaries, films etc. There is nothing that happens now that didn't happen then. Sex still happened, girls still got into trouble, people just hid things better.

There is a hell of a lot worse said in schools than anything you will find in Spencers Mointain. Not all family films are Bambi, but it doesn't mean the ones that aren't are offensive. There is being too prudish you know.

[myrtle]

K, narrowed it down to why I am so confused by your post.

Terrible film for teenagers??? Teenagers now? Ok, remove your rose tinted glasses, teenagers see and do a hell of a lot worse. Think they don't? That's called denial.