Friendly Persuasion

Gary Cooper Director: William Wyler William Wyler

Overview

William Wyler's unique look at the American Civil War, Friendly Persuasion, comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. English and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. Subtitles are accessible in both of those languages as well. Supplemental materials include production notes and a theatrical trailer. This is a good disc from Warner Bros. that is highlighted by the fine picture. A stereo mix would have been great, but this disc should entertain anyone with an interest in films from the '50s.

Product Details

Release Date:	12/05/2000
UPC:	0085391669326
Original Release:	1956
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Home Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Sound:	[monaural]
Time:	2:17:00
Sales rank:	148

Special Features

Behind-the-scenes documentary segment from the 1955 NBC-TV series "Wide Wide World"; Interactive menus; Production notes; Theatrical trailer; Scene access; Subtitles: English & Français

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Gary Cooper	Jess Birdwell
Dorothy McGuire	Eliza Birdwell
Anthony Perkins	Josh Birdwell
Marjorie Main	Widow Hudspeth
Robert Middleton	Sam Jordan
Richard Eyer	Little Jess
Phyllis Love	Mattie Birdwell
Mark Richman	Gard Jordan
Walter Catlett	Prof. Waldo Quigley
Richard Hale	Elder Purdy
Joel Fluellen	Enoch
Theodore Newton	Army Major
John Smith	Caleb
Mary Carr	Emma, Quaker Woman
Edna Skinner	Widow Hudspeth's Daughter
Marjorie Durant	Widow Hudspeth's Daughter
Russell Simpson	Elder
Charles Halton	Elder
Everett Glass	Elder
James Anderson	Poor Loser
Chuck Courtney	Reb Courier
Harry Hines	Barker
Earl Hodgins	Shooting Gallery Operator
Donald Kerr	Manager
Norman Leavitt	Clem
John M. Pickard	Ex-Sergeant
Ivan Rasputin	Billy Goat
Henry Rowland	O'Hara
Joe Turkel	Actor
Steve Warren	Haskell
John Parker Compton	Rebel Lieutenant
John Craven	Leader
James Dobson	Rebel Soldier
Richard Garland	Bushwhacker
Jean Innes	Mrs. Purdy
Tom Irish	Young Rebel
Mary Jackson	Country Woman
Frank Jenks	Shell Game Man
Diane Jergens	Young Girl Elizabeth
Helen Kleeb	Old Lady
Nelson Leigh	Minister
Ralph Sanford	Businessman
William Schallert	Young Husband
James Seay	Rebel Captain
Frank S. Hagney	Lemonade Vendor

Technical Credits

Michael Wilson

William Wyler	Director,Producer
Robert Belcher	Editor
Edward A. Biery	Editor
Ellsworth Fredericks	Cinematographer
Gordon R. Glennan	Sound/Sound Designer
Edward S. Haworth	Art Director
Bert Henrikson	Costumes/Costume Designer
Dorothy Jeakins	Costumes/Costume Designer
Austen Jewell	Asst. Director
Joe Kish	Set Decoration/Design
Emile LaVigne	Makeup
Augie Lohman	Special Effects
Robert Swink	Editor
Dimitri Tiomkin	Score Composer
Paul Francis Webster	Songwriter
Jessamyn West	Consultant/advisor
Michael Wilson	Screenwriter
Robert Wyler	Associate Producer

Scene Index

Side #1 --
0. Scene Selections
1. Embroidered Credits [1:57]
2. The Goose and I [2:54]
3. Mattie and Josh [2:34]
4. Thy Directions [2:25]
5. The Ride to Meeting [6:37]
6. Two Houses of God [2:39]
7. God Is Love [1:59]
8. Major Harvey's Entreaty [6:08]
9. Gard Comes Calling [3:33]
10. Jennings County Fair [3:43]
11. Forgetting Themselves [5:47]
12. An Altercation [4:16]
13. On the Road [2:40]
14. The Ladies Hudspeth [5:28]
15. Horse Trading [3:13]
16. Marry Me, Marry Me [3:42]
17. Eliza or the Organ [3:38]
18. Sam's Timely Visit [4:09]
19. A Night Out [2:39]
20. Godspeed [4:20]
21. The Race to Meeting [4:37]
22. Vocal Prayer [8:43]
23. Silent Prayer [3:00]
24. Hard Not to Be Clumsy [4:54]
25. Farewell to Gard [4:57]
26. Not His Conscience [3:23]
27. Prayer and a Choice [5:03]
28. Readying for Battle [2:53]
29. A Better Way of Settling Things [3:02]
30. Enemy in His Sights [4:24]
31. Rifle in Hand [3:19]
32. Welcoming the Raiders [1:46]
33. Defending Samantha [2:20]
34. A Friend's Death [2:26]
35. "I'll not harm thee" [2:43]
36. A Survivor [2:03]
37. Veterans Off to Meeting [3:25]

Menu

Side #1 --
   Special Features
      Cast & Crew
      "Wide Wide World"
      Behind the Scenes
      Awards
      Theatrical Trailer
   Languages
   Play Movie

Editorial Reviews

Friendly Persuasion is a charming, sensitive tale of a family of Quakers that attempts to maintain their pacifist ideals amid the turmoil of the U.S. Civil War. Best-known for playing quiet, understated characters who use violence when pushed too far, Gary Cooper gets the opportunity to explore a more peaceful resolution -- though the film occasionally suggests that no person can be completely pacifistic. The tech credits are solid, as should be expected for a film directed by William Wyler; of particular note are Dimitri Tiomkin's score and Dorothy Jeakins's costume design. Though the film tends to exaggerate Quaker speech, the performances are convincing, and the screenplay (by blacklisted Michael Wilson) does a good job of transferring Jessamyn West's story to the screen. The film received six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, though it did not win in any category.

All Movie Guide - Richard Gilliam