COME NEXT SPRING

US, 1956, 87 minutes, Colour.
Ann Sheridan, Steve Cochran, Walter Brennan, Edgar Buchanan, Sonny Tufts.
Directed by R.G. Springsteen.

Come Next Spring is an attractive piece of Americana, a small-budget Republic Studios film of the mid-'50s. Ann Sheridan gives a strong performance as the deserted mother bringing up her small children. Steve Cochrane is sympathetic as a wanderer coming home. There is pleasant support from Walter Brennan and Edgar Buchanan - doing their usual western-type role. There is an atmosphere of Arkansas in the '30s - backed by a romantic Max Steiner score and title song.

1. An attractive piece of Americana? Arkansas? Small towns and farms? The popularity of this kind of film in the '50s? Now?

2. Small-budget production? Colour, locations? The stars? Max Steiner’s score and its use?

3. The conventions of the film - almost cliche material but used with intelligence and fine sentiment?

4. The ordinariness of the plot - but presented with conviction? Authentic, real characters, hopes?

5. The strong drawing of the characters in folksy situations? Insight into human nature?

6. Matt and his arrival, asking for information, discovering his son, his relationship with Bess and the children, her first reaction, the change? His background and story, his learning by mistakes and returning home? Experience of wandering? The meal, the response of the children? His fixing the wheel? Walking with his boy and the attack of the razorbacks? Discovering his friends in the town? Leroy as rival? The townspeople spurning him - the poolroom and the accusation of 'coward'? The churchgoing? The saving of the child when the panic about the cyclone started? His capacity for managing people? The dance, the bet and the drink? The clash with Bess? The atmosphere of the fight with Leroy? The cyclone and its effect? The townspeople supporting him? Reconciliation with Bess - and a future? The rescue of Annie? A sketch of an ordinary but good man?

7. Bess and her strength, her reaction towards Matt and his walking out, her bringing up the children? Strength, farm work, decisions? The attentions of Leroy? The outings, the shopping? The work? The dance and her reaction to Matt's drinking? The fight? Her change of heart?

8. The young boy and his not having a father, his response to Matt, delight in discovering he had a father? Annie and her inability to speak? The story of the accident ~ and Matt's talking about it? Her love for the animals? The two looked down on by the kids in the town? Her final scream - appropriate final image for the film?

9. The Arkansas farms, the share farmers, the variety of types, the grain and the depot, the poolroom, the people in the town, the dance, churchgoing, fights, cyclones?

10. Walter Brennan and his usual humorous style? Friendship, drinking, forgetting his age? Edgar Buchanan as sympathetic and wise? Leroy and his wanting to marry Bess?

11. Pleasing Americana - with the right touch of feeling and sentiment?