InformationRap This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Derry Herrera Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Lela The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

r-flavin In all honesty I don't think id watch this film again. There wasn't really anything specific that i enjoyed about it and just like a few of the townspeople involved in this story I felt as if the idea of pushing religion on people was a bit off throughout the film. The Parsons played by Joel McCrea was a decent character a cowboy gone priest that uses his words of wisdom instead of violent acts to solve issues around his town. He brings forth a touching story but It just wasn't my cup of tea per say. I did however enjoy the camera work and the way in which the film was shot in each scene to capture a specific emotion. The music wasn't too overbearing although overplayed and the voices of the actors made this film watchable because each character felt raw and natural. I wish that the story was more focused on the town itself instead of mostly the Parsons and the narrator the this story the young boy the Parsons takes in. Id like to see every side of the story to justify each character's actions besides the laws of the land that take place throughout the film involving events after the civil war. Id suggest this movie to someone who doesn't mind too much religious views in their films other than that this film was a good concept but it didn't fulfill what i had felt the movie was going to be about from the beginning.

JeffersonCody STARS IN MY CROWN (1950): with Joel McCrea, Ellen Drew, Dean Stockwell, Alan Hale, Lewis Stone, James Mitchell, Amanda Blake, Juano Hernandez, Ed Begley, Arthur Hunnicutt and James Arness, directed by Jacques Tourneur. Rating: **** stars. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.One of the most beautiful and touching films I have seen in the last year or so. If "Stars in my Crown" doesn't move you, you have a heart of stone. Joel McCrea - radiating sincerity, integrity and goodness, plays Pastor Josiah Grey, a Protestant minister who was a soldier in the Civil war. He arrives in the small town of Walesville, strides into the bar, puts his six guns guns on the counter and preaches a sermon. And of course he never puts those guns on again. Josiah builds a church, marries Harriet (Ellen Drew) and adopts his nephew John (Dean Stockwell). Trouble rears its head when Lon Bracket (Ed Begley) tries to buy the former slave, Uncle Famous Prill's (Juano Hernandez) land because he wants to mine it. Uncle Famous refuses to sell and an angry Lon sends a bunch of bullies to destroy the place. But the Swedish farmer Jed Isbell (Alan Hale) - a friend of Josiah's who doesn't attend church, and his six boys turn up to fix the farm.Later, a typhoid epidemic strikes the town and young doctor Dr. Harris (James Mitchell) attends to the sick and dying while Josiah attends to their souls. This annoys the doctor, who persuades Josiah that he is responsible for spreading the disease. He's wrong, but Josiah, feeling guilty, closes his church and starts staying indoors. Meanwhile, Lon gathers the Klu Klux Klan and prepares to lynch Uncle Famous. Jed and his sons are ready to shoot it out with the Klan, but Josiah has another plan. At times, this lovely, heartwarming film reminded me of "To Kill a Mockingbird" and I was surprised, considering when it was made, at how strongly it stands against racism and supports Civil Rights. I also enjoyed the fact that Josiah Grey never talks about the supernatural. If only there were more preachers like him in the world. He is a good man through and through. Jacques Tourneur is a terrific director and I have enjoyed many of his films, but this is the best one I have seen yet. Now wonder he wanted to make it so badly that he was prepared to accept a minimal salary. It's a gentle, yet powerful classic. The final stand off between Josiah Grey and the Klan, BTW, is unforgettable.

vincentlynch-moonoi If you're looking for a rip-snortin' western, this isn't it. But it's not exactly a "family" picture, either...although it is suitable for the whole family. This is a very well put together reminiscence of what life was like...at least in some villages...not too long after the Civil War. In other words, this is probably what REAL life was like back then.Joel McCrea is excellent here as the preacher in the town of Walesburg. It is said he spoke of this film as one of his favorites. Over time, he becomes a well-respected member of the community as he takes care of an orphan (Dean Stockwell) and the townspeople. Life passes by. After only a brief scene, the wonderful Lewis Stone, as the town's old doctor, dies, to be replaced by his on, an unreligious man who really has no intention of remaining in the town...but he is in love with the school teacher (Amanda Blake in her first film role, and 5 years before she began her stint on "Gunsmoke"...ironically, James Arness is also in the film, though uncredited!). The preacher's "son" comes down with typhoid, which tests the preacher's faith. The preacher closes his church and withdraws from the community. The "son" recovers and the young doctor begins to be more accepted by the community. Then, it appears the school teacher is dying, but prayer appears to be the answer, and the young doctor's belief in God begins to develop. Businessman Ed Begley tries to buy the land of freed slave, and when rebuffed turns to the Ku Klux Klan. Farmer Alan Hale steps in and helps the former slave. When the KKK develops a lynching party, the preacher's sermon to them saves the old man. Faith is restored.No, this is not a true western, but it is true Americana. Performances are quite good all around, and this film was made in the last year of Alan Hale's life, although he was only 57 years old. It's actually difficult to find much wrong with this film...and, after-all, it was an MGM production at a time when MGM was still the mark of excellence.Highly recommended for the story, and as well for the steadied performance of Joel McCrae, although this film almost has the feel of an ensemble cast. Ellen Drew's part as the preacher's wife is rather minor, though necessary. Dean Stockwell certainly was one of the best child actors of his era, and is here. Clearly, Alan Hale was getting along here, but as always, was a welcome face in any film. James Mitchell as the young doctor was good, though I was not familiar with him. Amanda Blake was suitable as the school teacher. Juano Hernandez was excellent as the former slave. And, Ed Begley was perfect as the villain of the story. Again, this seems more like an ensemble cast, rather than a star system cast.

opusv5 Enjoyed this film. It portrayed a post-Civil War mid-west (so it appeared)community in a way that could make you nostalgic. Not that everything was perfect: the Ku Klux Klan harassing a freed black man (the distinguished Puerto Rican actor Juano Hernandez)primarily because they want his land. That preacher Joel McCrae manages to talk them out of it by appealing to their basic decency works without being cloying. Initially a muscular Christian, he here uses his brain to do the Lord's work. Also believable was the community's vulnerability to disease. They had no laboratory-testing facilities to see if that well-water was the source. McCrae's self doubt in the face of all this is believable.As for the cast, I'm pretty sure I spotted an uncredited Peter Graves as one of Alan Hale's offspring.