GamerTab That was an excellent one.

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Helllins It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

rpkpkp This is a Very good movie. Yes, it's formulaic but with surprises and treats to hold your interest. I laughed out loud several times and got misty eyed a couple of others. The Romance of Rosy Ridge is set in southern Missouri, one of the most evenly divided parts of the country, in the summer after the War Between the States, In this town, 23 families were on each side. The depiction of life in that era, with colloquialisms and period references is fun to observe. The battle of Pea Ridge is mentioned, although southerners call it Elkhorn Tavern. They talk of moving to "the territories", evidently Kansas and Nebraska. Home life, transportation, and farm tools are demonstrated in passing. Van Johnson's character arrives and sets about healing the violent and very partisan rift between the Yanks and Rebs. His breeziness is refreshing, yet he has quite serious moments, also sings. Janet Leigh in her screen debut is stunning; even her mother remarks, "that's a lot of woman trying to fit into that dress." Thomas Mitchell is accurate as a staunch Reb and an old-school head of household. He was Scarlett's father in Gone With the Wind. Also in the cast is Jim Davis, the one and only Jock Ewing. Several other recognizable actors perform well. One hilarious scene has Elisabeth Risdon wearing out her storekeeper husband, Guy Kibbee, about his idea of a dance to bring the townspeople together. She finally says, "this will be a terrible night and you'll be remembering it for the rest of your life." In true Fred Mertz style, he replies, "at least for the rest of Your life."

atlasmb 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.

MartinHafer "The Romance of Rosy Ridge" surprised me a bit. While I assumed it would be a pretty good film given its cast, it turned out to be even better. It's a wonderful little film and I strongly recommend you see it.The film is set in Missouri 1965--just after the Civil War. Rosy Ridge is a sad community because it was a divided town in a border state and folks fought on both sides during the war. Because of this, there is still a lot of acrimony among the locals--with someone burning barns of the ex-Confederates. One guy, Gill MacBean (Thomas Mitchell) has vowed NEVER to have anything to do with anyone who fought for the Union.One day, a stranger, Henry Carson (Van Johnson) wanders by the MacBean farm. While Gill isn't very friendly, the rest of the family invites the man in for dinner and soon he ends up staying for some time. Now this stranger isn't a freeloader--he works very hard around the place and he's also very likable. However, when it comes to politics, he says very little and Gill cannot figure out which side this young man might have fought for in the war. If he is a Yankee, this is a serious problem for Gill, as his daughter, Lissy (Janet Leigh--in her first film) is falling for Henry. There is MUCH more to the film than this--but frankly it's better if you just see it for yourself. Suffice to say, there isn't much not to like about this film. The acting is very nice (particular by Johnson), the script superb (offering lots of twists and a wonderful surprise ending) and it's a nice look at American history. Exceptional.By the way, although it's not the same, you do wonder if the film was the inspiration for the "Andy Griffith Show" episode "A Stranger in Town" as there are some similarities.

bkoganbing 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.