Solidrariol Am I Missing Something?

Peereddi I was totally surprised at how great this film.You could feel your paranoia rise as the film went on and as you gradually learned the details of the real situation.

WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

Kirandeep Yoder The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

gkeith_1 Spoilers. Observations. Opinions.A lovely film. Quakers are shown as serene, caring, spiritual farmers. I kept thinking of Amish when I was viewing this film, especially the black buggies and simple types of lives. There is so much recent press about Amish people, but less about Quakers.The Quakers' religious opposites are shown here as wearing colorful garments, while the Quakers in their church dress in gray, black and some tan. The Methodists believe in singing, but the Quakers frown on that sinful type of amusement.The mother seems like she liked dancing before her marriage, and that now her beliefs prohibit her from such enjoyment.The Civil War. People's ancestors came here, some of them, for religious freedom. Did that mean that they would not fight to maintain that freedom? Would they not fight to protect their families and properties?Were Quakers hiding behind the skirts of their religion so they would not have to fight? Did Lincoln's draft exclude Quakers and other conscientious objectors?Did Morgan invade Indiana? I know he invaded southern Ohio, where today those towns celebrate the romance of that rogue.This story took place north of the Ohio River. Tons of American Civil War Battles took place below the Mason-Dixon Line, but hardly any in Union territory. The northern biggie was in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania over the 4th of July period in 1863, tons of miles away from the Indiana of this story, and a year later. Is this film's Civil War depiction about the Confederates accurate? Maybe so, but I haven't heard of it.Matter of fact, the Ohio River was a major dividing line between north and south, meaning that some people along both sides of the river were not always true to their side. Some people north of the river were Southern sympathizers. Some people south of the river were Northern sympathizers. You talk about brother against brother.Total war: done in the countryside and in towns, such as was done in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. From my historic war studies at university, regular or standard war is done on a real battlefield, where civilians and their private properties are not involved in the fighting. On a standard battlefield, there are no homebound women and children to be held hostage, and no food stores, livestock, silverware or candlesticks to be stolen -- no houses to be set on fire.The daughter in this film is not discussed much in comments here. The males are glorified, and the mother is admired. The daughter looks twelve to fourteen, in love with a Northern officer, who may be about twenty to twenty-one years of age. The actress playing this daughter was in real life around thirty years old during filming, so this was quite a stretch.More female observations: The three daughters of Marjorie Main were a total hoot, devouring Anthony Perkins with their eyes. They all wanted that man. Marjorie, meanwhile, was still in love, obviously, with her late husband. Marjorie, apparently, did not come on to Gary Cooper; Marjorie needed to fix her hair, anyway. Samantha the goose was a real scene stealer, and was one of the stars of the show.I am a degreed historian from university, studying many courses about the American Civil War, including military history, Civil War medicine, slavery, women's history and domestic interests, religious history of Christianity. I am also an actress, dancer, singer, stage makeup artist and fashion designer. I am a long-term film critic and movie reviewer for IMDb, with around 400 critiques and reviews since 2002.

Cass Moret "Friendly Persuasion" was released in 1956, a long time ago. But the movie is a timeless gem and I had the good fortune to watch it recently. Like the lives of real rural Quakers in the 1860s, the lives of the Birdwell's in the movie don't tell a conventional story with a beginning, middle and end. Instead, the movie links together a series of mostly humorous episodes, each of which could be the basis of a self-contained short story: The Birdwell's, father, mother, eligible daughter, teenage son and younger son attend a fair with unexpected consequences. Unknown to his wife, Jess buys a small organ. Its delivery ignites a dispute. Jess and his teenage son, Josh, make a two- week trip selling orchard stock to farmers. They stop at the home of a widow with three "man hungry" daughters who shower Josh with unwanted attention. The Civil War is remote until a plundering rebel patrol suddenly appears at their doorstep. Josh anguishes over killing. All of the actors and actresses turn in fine performances, but Gary Cooper shines. His expressive face can speak volumes without a single spoken word.

froberts73 Spare me some of these critics - read 'em blue eyes vs. brown eyes; Cooper disliked the film/he liked it but not the way he looked in it; Perkins did not like McGuire/he did like McGuire. The most ridiculous claim was from the right wingers flapping their wings. Speaking of that, it should be mentioned that Samantha the goose was one helluva scene stealer. Four honks.I thought the movie was a beaut. I live in an area that was an early Quaker settlement, and there are still two active Friends churches. Needless to say the 'thou' and 'thee' are out of fashion, but the warmth remains.My only puzzlement is that the family, whose house still stands and is a tourist attraction were, like all Quakers, anti-slavery, but the family did own four slaves.Back to the movie. Cooper, the fightin' hero of "Sgt. York," does a complete turnaround as a pacifist poppa, and he does so wonderfully, telling his story not only by his words, but by his facial expressions.Perkins was perk-fect as the son of Cooper and McGuire. I wonder what Coop and Perk talked about between takes - hopefully not sexual preferences."Friendly Persuasion" told its story quite well, and is particularly enjoyable if you just watch and enjoy, instead of watching for things gone wrong. That is very un-friendly.

rich_illing Why do all movie Quakers have paper thin convictions to their morals? If this had been a movie about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, they would have him gunning down racists by the second reel. If they approached the life of Ghandi the way this movie treats Quakers, Ghandi would have been bombing churches.I am an atheist, but if there are any people on the face of the earth who do not kill, no matter the circumstances, it is the Quakers. If you were to believe this movie, Quakers are blood thirsty zombies out to seek revenge on anyone who crosses them.EVERY PRINT OF THIS FILM SHOULD BE DESTROYED.