drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...
film adaptation
A film adaptation is the transfer of a work or story, in whole or in part, to a feature film. Although often considered a type of derivative work, film adaptation has been conceptualized recently by academic scholars such as Robert Stam as a dial ...
of the novel by the same name, written by Bill and Vera Cleaver. The film was produced by
Robert B. Radnitz
Robert Bonoff Radnitz (August 9, 1924 – June 6, 2010) was an American film producer best known for his production of the family films '' Sounder'' and ''Where the Lilies Bloom''. He produced several movies, many of which were adapted from child ...
Watauga County
Watauga County ( ) from the North Carolina Collection's website at the (towns of Boone and
Blowing Rock Blowing Rock may refer to:
* The town of Blowing Rock, North Carolina
** The rocky outcropping Blowing Rock (land feature), near the town of the same name
* Blowing Rock, Virginia, an unincorporated community
* Caribbean island belonging to Anguil ...
Lansing
Lansing () is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is mostly in Ingham County, although portions of the city extend west into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. The 2020 census placed the city's population at 112,644, makin ...
), and in
Avery County
Avery County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,806. The county seat is Newland. The county seat was initially established in Elk Park when the county was first formed, but wa ...
Banner Elk
Banner Elk is a town in Avery County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,028 at the 2010 census. Banner Elk is home to Lees–McRae College.
History
The area surrounding the Elk River was inhabited by the Cherokee before weste ...
),
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
. Soundtrack music is by
Earl Scruggs
Earl Eugene Scruggs (January 6, 1924 – March 28, 2012) was an American musician noted for popularizing a three-finger banjo picking style, now called "Scruggs style", which is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music. His three-fin ...
.
Children from local elementary schools were recruited to act in the film.
In the United States, the film has of yet been released only on VHS. This, along with copies of TV broadcasts, is often the source for many
bootleg
Bootleg or bootlegging most often refers to:
* Bootleg recording, an audio or video recording released unofficially
* Rum-running, the illegal business of transporting and trading in alcoholic beverages, hence:
** Moonshine, or illicitly made ...
DVDs. As of 2020, it is streaming free on Amazon Prime. On July 19, 2022, it will release on both DVD and 1080p Blu-ray.
Plot
The Luther family are poor sharecroppers living in the mountains of
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
. The father, Roy Luther (
Rance Howard
Rance Howard (born Harold Engle Beckenholdt; November 17, 1928 – November 25, 2017) was an American actor who starred in film and on television. He was the father of actor and filmmaker Ron Howard and actor Clint Howard, and grandfather of actr ...
) is sickly and asks the second eldest daughter, Mary Call (Julie Gholson) to take over his role of father when he passes on. He instructs her not to tell anyone when he dies as doctors, undertakers and preachers "just take money." Should the authorities discover he is dead, the children would be split up and put in foster homes since none of them are of legal age. Their landlord Kiser Pease, (
Harry Dean Stanton
Harry Dean Stanton (July 14, 1926 – September 15, 2017) was an American actor, musician, and singer.
In a career that spanned more than six decades, Stanton played supporting roles in films including '' Cool Hand Luke'' (1967), ''Kelly's Heroe ...
), is interested in marrying the eldest daughter Devola (
Jan Smithers
Karin Jan Smithers (born July 3, 1949) is an American actress. She is known for playing Bailey Quarters on the CBS sitcom ''WKRP in Cincinnati'' (1978–1982).
Life and career
Smithers grew up with her parents and three sisters in Woodland Hil ...
). Roy Luther won't allow the marriage and makes Mary Call promise she won't let it happen after he dies. Mary Call and younger brother Romey (Matthew Burril) help Kiser when he is sick with pneumonia and Kiser agrees to sign the land back over to the Luther family.
When Roy Luther dies, the children bury him on a mountainside in an unmarked grave, then go to elaborate lengths to keep anyone from finding out he is dead. The children rehearse over and over about what to say if asked about their father. Kiser continues his courtship of Devola with Mary Call doing everything she can to thwart his pursuit of her.
The Luther children scrimp and do all they can to eke out a living for themselves and even sell roots and herbs gathered from their land to the local pharmacist to use in medicines. Mary Call takes refuge in her journal, and the essays she writes for school assignments catch the eye of her teacher who urges her not to waste her talent with words by settling for "a life in the hills," obviously implying that Mary Call should pursue a career as an
author
An author is the writer of a book, article, play, mostly written work. A broader definition of the word "author" states:
"''An author is "the person who originated or gave existence to anything" and whose authorship determines responsibility f ...
.
When Kiser lands in the hospital after having been hit by a truck, his nosy sister Goldie comes to the Luther house and demands they vacate the property. She says the paper that Kiser signed giving Luther's back their land is worthless and orders them out in 48 hours. With no options left, a desperate Mary Call visits Kiser in the hospital and offers herself to him in marriage. Kiser would rather marry Devola and a distraught Mary Call blurts out that Roy Luther is dead. She threatens to kill Kiser if he tells anyone and storms out. Finally, Mary Call agrees to let Kiser marry Devola. Mary Call realizes that Kiser was not so bad after all. After Kiser and Devola marry, the entire Luther family live together in Kiser and Devola's home.
Cast
* Julie Gholson as Mary Call
*
Jan Smithers
Karin Jan Smithers (born July 3, 1949) is an American actress. She is known for playing Bailey Quarters on the CBS sitcom ''WKRP in Cincinnati'' (1978–1982).
Life and career
Smithers grew up with her parents and three sisters in Woodland Hil ...
as Devola
* Matthew Burril as Romey
* Helen Harmon as Ima Dean
*
Harry Dean Stanton
Harry Dean Stanton (July 14, 1926 – September 15, 2017) was an American actor, musician, and singer.
In a career that spanned more than six decades, Stanton played supporting roles in films including '' Cool Hand Luke'' (1967), ''Kelly's Heroe ...
as Kiser Pease
*
Rance Howard
Rance Howard (born Harold Engle Beckenholdt; November 17, 1928 – November 25, 2017) was an American actor who starred in film and on television. He was the father of actor and filmmaker Ron Howard and actor Clint Howard, and grandfather of actr ...
as Roy Luther
* Tom Spratley as Mr. Connell
* Helen Bragdon as Mrs. Connell
* Alice Beardsley as Goldie Pease
*
Sudie Bond
Sudie Bond (July 13, 1923 – November 10, 1984) was an American actress on film, stage, and television.
Early years
Bond was one of four children of J. Roy Bond, an industrialist, and Carrie Bond. She grew up in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and was ...
as Miss Fleetie
* Bob Cole as Hyder Graybeal
* Martha Nell Hardy as Rose Graybeal
* Resi Sinclair as Alma Graybeal
* Gregg Parrish as Gaither Graybeal
* Janine Hughes as First Girl
* Karen Moody as Second Girl
* Tom Guinn as Buck Morris
* George Stenhouse as Minister (as Rev. George Stenhouse)
Development
This is the second film produced by Robert B. Radnitz and
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. ( ) is an American multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment company founded in January 1945 and headquartered in El Segundo, California. The company has presence in 35 countries and territories and sells products in more ...