Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! (1948)

Why they can't even have a legitimate name. Mule, donkey, ass. But a horse is a horse of course, of course. Jewish peasants in Anavtevka argue over the trading of a horse, claiming that it was a mule. Their reputation has them as stubborn creatures, sitting defiantly when they don't intend to move. But in films, little farm boys love them, especially Mexican ones, so that says something about their sweetness. Troubled farmboy Lon McCallister seems able to handle the two mules that their new owner (and his employer) Tom Tully can't, so he agrees to pay $5 a month for them. Unbeknownst to McCallister, the arrogant Tully is in cahoots with his nasty stepbrother to prevent him from completing the payment, all because of a vendetta against stepmother Anne Revere whose nastiness drove Lon's father out of their own home to his death.This film is known as the debut of Marilyn Monroe in a brief talking part (on and off in a second), and shouldn't be viewed with seeing her in mind. The female lead is the pretty blonde June Haver who was the musical rival to Betty Grable, and she's photogenic, charming and likable, if not completely magical. As her younger sister, Natalie Wood is as precocious as usual, but can't steal the film from the mules or lovable drunk Walter Brennan. McCallister gives a sincere performance, while Tully digs deep to show the many aspects of his bitter farmer. In her few scenes, Revere shows the ugliness of her character who has no redeeming qualities. The mixture of family melodrama and light comedy makes this rural slice of life film an entertaining time filler.

Have revisited an echo from the past tonight. (November 2016). First saw this b/w film in '49 or '50 when I was six years old, and it has stuck with me for ,,, a while. Yes, it's pretty hokey, but my Old Man identified with the mules and a life style that was obsolete, even in 1948 when it was produced. The script is grade-school, but charming and the acting is stilted, but typical for a B-movie. Over all, leaves you with a fondness for a world that no longer exists. Happily the DVD is from a technicolor print in pristine condition. I recognize the Old Mans hat as the same one Walter Brennan wears; Moms' Sunbeam Mix Master on the kitchen counter; and the tin document box where Walter keeps Snugs' Dads' Last Will and Testament, is the same box I kept my crayons in, and now keep my own documents -- including the Wills and Deeds. Amazing coincidences, which probably mean nothing to anyone but my self, listed here, for your own amusement... Enjoy the Movie.

George Agnew Chamberlain's book about determined farm boy in rural small town America training two prize-winning mules to drive; pretty soon, he and the two stubborn creatures are hauling out logs from the forest and making fifteen dollars a day, which irks the man he bought them from as well as his own evil step-brother. Director F. Hugh Herbert, who also adapted the screenplay, does a terrific job setting the mood of the piece--frisky but also angst-ridden. Lon McCallister is the polite juvenile battling with his father's crude wife and her son for his dad's respect, later butting heads with farmer Tom Tully (in a convincingly angry, blow-hard performance). Although this is ostensibly a simple tale of a boy's love for two mules, there's a lot of busy melodrama going on. The scenario isn't overly-folksy, and the villains (including Anne Revere, in her least-sympathetic role ever) are surprisingly effective. The romance sub-plot between Tully's blonde, beautiful daughter June Haver and skinny McCallister doesn't quite work as well (she seems a bit out of his league); thankfully, little Natalie Wood is around a lot, spying on her neighbors and getting all the juicy gossip. Good contract-picture from Fox has an undeserved poor reputation (with its title causing most of the derision), but I was entertained from start to finish. Look fast for Marilyn Monroe as 'Betty' on the church steps. *** from ****

An enjoyable film dealing with a male Cinderella-like relationship. Fed up with his nagging wife and bullying son, a man heads out to sea and leaves his son $20.00 to fend for himself.The film is a gem as it shows the warm relationships that can develop with still another family and a man's determination to get those mules to work.Anne Revere appears briefly as the wicked wife but she is memorable once again. As her n'eer-do-well son, Bob Karnes, is miserable at his best. Lon McAllister shines as the step-son and Natalie Wood steals the show as a precocious youngster who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Another good performance is given by Tom Tully as as a nasty neighbor, and Walter Brennan is in fine form as an understanding friend to the McAllister role.