William Wyler

Copyright Âc 2008 Ed Bagley

Friendly Persuasion - 3 Stars (Good)

If "Friendly Persuasion" was produced 52 years after its initial release in 1956, he could have won some of the 6 Oscar nominations it received, but not the best sound and best scenario, not to mention Best Picture and Best Director .

Technological advances in moviemaking today are light years ahead of where they were when William Wyler directed this simple film about a simple family in a very complicated situation.

The family members are Birdwell Quakers by faith, farmers by profession and clearly in the wrong place in Indiana in 1862 when Confederate soldiers are marching north in the Civil War, foraging and using a scorched earth policy, destroying everything in their path.

Father Jess (Gary Cooper), mother Eliza (Dorothy McGuire), son Josh (Anthony Perkins) and her daughter Mattie (Phyllis Love) are not only Quakers, they are practicing Quaker pacifist and neutral against any act violence, especially war against another person.

Well, everyone except Josh, when he learns that the forces of the South are marching toward his farm to destroy their spirit and their family members are in danger of losing their lives, decided to fight.

"I do not want to die," laments Josh. "I do not think I could kill someone if I tried. But I must try, as other people do. "Eliza's mother is distraught and urges Josh to pray on his decision before acting.

When the prayer is not the result Eliza wants, she turns to her father to help convince Josh not to go and fight. Jess counters with this little thought, "I am her father, Eliza, not his conscience. a man's life is not worth a hill of beans except he lives in his own conscience. "

Josh is going and what happens to him that the Confederate forces attack the farm, well, that's why you must see this film. There are a number of reasons why this film was nominated for Oscars for Best of the Best Film, Best Director, Best Sound, Writing, Best Music (Dimitri Tiomkin, music, and Paul Francis Webster, lyrics) and best supporting Actor (Anthony Perkins, who would gain more fame four years later with Janet Leigh in "Psycho").

Friendly Persuasion was released without a screenwriting credit because of the blacklist by Michael Wilson, whose credit the screenwriter was restored 40 years later in 1996. Despite the work of Michael Wilson, his script was not better than the book it was based on Jessamyn West.

The official name of religion is the Quaker Society of Friends. Jessamyn West is book called "The Friendly Persuasion" which refers to the Quaker faith. The film is titled "Friendly Persuasion" which refers to how to communicate with other Quakers.

The film poses the question of how far someone will go to stand by his or her religious beliefs in a mortal crisis. History is full of martyrs who were killed or died because of their religious beliefs.

Gary Cooper initially turned down his role, because he does not believe the American public accept it as a devout Quaker father. Cooper was wrong.

Director William Wyler went to the bank on this film. He was the director, but also the producer with his brother Robert Wyler as associate producer. Wyler is considered by many as the second of John Ford as a master craftsman of cinema. He was nominated a record 12 times for an Academy Award as best director, and won three Oscars for "Ms. Miner," "The Best Years of Our Lives" and "Ben-Hour.

Although the style of leadership was demanding Wyler (he was nicknamed "40-take Wyler"), several actors won Oscars in films Wyler (14 Oscars in 36 Nomin.