HOME FROM THE HILL
US, 1959, 150 minutes, Colour.
Robert Mitchum, George Hamilton, George Peppard, Eleanor Parker, Luana Patten, Everett Sloane, Constance Ford.
Directed by Vincente Minnelli.
Home from the Hill is a quotation from a poem by John Masefield: "Home is the sailor, home from the sea, the hunter home from the hill." The film was directed by Vincente Minnelli - after his Oscar success with Gigi and his moving into more lavish, long melodramas (Two Weeks In Another Town, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse).
The film has a strong persuasive performance by Robert Mitchum as the patriarch of the family. Eleanor Parker is also strong as his estranged wife and possessive mother of George Hamilton. George Hamilton and George Peppard at the beginning of their careers are quite impressive.
While the film is long, perhaps overlong, it shows the portrait of a family, life in an American town, the importance of appearances, despite morality underneath the surfaces.
A film of its period - the stuff of later mini-series.
1.Family saga, character portraits, piece of Americana?
2.The atmosphere of the South, the town, the forests? Cinemascope photography? Musical score? Strength of the cast? The director?
3.The title and the Masefield poem? The use of the hunting images: the opening with the two boys and their father, teaching Theron to hunt, the emphasis on trophies and a man's achievement? The finale with Theron hunting Libby's father? Themes of literal hounding the victim, the blood, wounding? Stalking, killing? The emotions of the hunter and the kill? Death, vengeance? The masculine macho images? Trophies? The destructiveness of hunting?
4.The portrait of a family and its breakdown? The patriarch a law unto himself, attitude towards illegitimate children - and their mothers? The estranged wife? The pampered son and heir and wanting to make a man of him?
5.Robert Mitchum as Wade: in the initial hunting sequence, shot by the jealous husband, going to the doctor and covering it up, his reputation in the town? Returning home to Hannah, their estrangement? The estrangement of 17 years? His bonds with Rafe but never acknowledging him? Thinking Theron was a mother's boy? Theron wanting to talk to him, talking about hunting, showing him the trophies, training him? The commission to kill the boar? His congratulations to his son, the bond between father and son? His attitude towards Theron and Libby, Libby's father and the anxious visit, Wade keeping control? Rafe and ignoring the bond between him and his son? Hannah and the truth? Theron learning the truth about the illegitimacy, his decision to leave, rejecting his father and wanting nothing to do with him, giving the money to Rafe? The changes in the house? Wanting to win Theron back, the proposed reconciliation with Hannah? The suddenness of his murder? The tombstone and the acknowledgment of Hannah and his two sons?
6.Rafe as a genial man, the desire to be acknowledged by his father, working with him in the hunting, helping Theron in the hunt, the family bonds? Theron asking him to propose the outing to Libby? Theron's discovery of the truth, Rafe's helping him? Giving him back the money? Meeting Libby and listening to he sadness, her story? His wanting to do the right thing, the marriage ceremony, the house? Waiting for her to love him, husband and wife, the birth of the child, the baptism? His father's death, running to help him, wanting him to say `my son'? Chasing Theron to stop the vengeance, the tombstone and the public acknowledgment, his inviting Hannah into the house to care for the child? The future of the marriage?
7.The contrast with Theron, his age, spoilt, acting as a boy, inexperienced, being fooled by the men out hunting, humiliated? The talk with his father, the explanation of the trophies, being helped in the hunt, the determination, the death of the dogs, the pursuit of the boar, shooting the boar without flinching? Wanting to go out with Libby but awkward, rejected by her father? Their talks, plans? The change in Theron, hearing the truth from his mother, rejecting his father, hating the information, going to Rafe, giving him the money? His conscience? Going to work, success at work? The approach of the girl at the bar? His vigil outside Rafe and Libby's house? Present at the baptism? His father shot, the reaction, taking the truck to avenge his father, shooting Libby's father? Having to leave - the touch of East of Eden?
8.Hannah and her bitterness, the relationship with Wade, harsh talking to him, wanting to own Theron, the bargain with Wade? Her being hurt by Theron hunting? Telling him the truth, losing him? Wanting the reconciliation, the grief at Wade's death, at the cemetery, going to Rafe's house?
9.Libby as attractive, dominated by her father, going out with Theron, the hopes? Her weeping with Rafe, her pregnancy? The marriage, deciding to be wife to Rafe? The baptism - and her love?
10.Libby's father and his intensity, the gossip, standing against Theron, going to plead with Wade and being humiliated, the wedding, the baptism, overhearing the gossip and his angry reaction, shooting Wade? Fleeing, shot by Theron?
11.The men of the town, hunting, macho style, talk, the bars? The gossip about Wade?
12.The scope of the film and its style, personal responsibility for behaviour and consequences, love and hate, violence and hope?
