In the early 1950's families spent quality time at movies where a Coke cost a nickel and popcorn a dime. Americans escaped from their daily routine and lived in a different world for a few hours.
In the real world North Korea invaded South Korea on a Sunday in June,1950 and young Americans once again died in a foreign land.
The movie "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain" was made in 1950 among the red clay hills of north Georgia. The 1910 novel that became the movie was written by Georgian Corra Harris and was entitled "A Circuit Rider's Wife." It told the story of a young Methodist preacher and his bride as they moved to the Georgia hills to pastor a local church. Much of the movie was shot around Helen and Cleveland in what are called the Blue Ridge Mountains.
When Corra Harris died in 1935, Hollywood screenwriter Lamar Trotti, an Atlanta native, wrote the screenplay of her book. Trotti earned his fame far from Georgia, but he had kept his love of his home and it's history. After World War II, Henry King, a successful director, worked with Trotti to produce the movie for Twentieth Century-Fox. King had made the religious films "David and Bathsheba" and "Song of Bernadette." He was born in Christiansburg, Va.
Susan Hayward played the role of Mary Elizabeth, the preacher's wife and narrates the story. Rev. William Thompson is played by William Lundigan. Both give fine performances about a country preacher, his wife and the Christian life of a small town in the rural South. Their faith is tested by a deadly flu epidemic, a child drowning at the church picnic and the miscarriage of their child. The faithful strength of this couple brings the people closer to one another. Mary even talks a tight fisted old man out of money and buys Christmas presents for the poor children.
The supporting cast includes: Rory Calhoun and Gene Lockhart, father of actress June Lockhart. Alexander Knox, of the movie "Wilson", played a non-believer who was touched in the end by the goodness of the preacher and his wife. Even though Knox lost a child, he now sees his children just as happy as other children and tells Rev. Thompson that he and his family would look to the future with an open mind.
There is an emotional scene where Minister Thompson asks all married couples to hold hands and repeat their marriage vows. This is a scene worth repeating - many times! The climax is classic Hollywood. Thompson, as a circuit-riding minister, is transferred to
Atlanta. He and Mary bid their congregation farewell. Susan Hayward became very fond of the mountain people, many of whom played extras.
An early 1900's automobile was needed for the movie. The producers found Otis Mason in South Carolina with a 1912 vintage Overland in running condition. However, he was the only one who knew how to drive it. Mr. Mason appears in the movie as the driver and just had one line, "Yes Ma'am." What would you give for just one line in a movie? Especially a line that husbands use all the time!
The movie ends with the "Lords Prayer" sung slowly and reverently. The original music by Sol Kaplan and music direction by Lionel Newman are wonderful. This beautiful Technicolor classic is about dirt roads, farm lands, old buildings and Georgia mountain folks. Edward Cronjager received praise for the film's Technicolor cinematography.
"I'd Climb the Highest Mountain" was filmed during the golden era of Hollywood. It premiered in February, 1951, in Atlanta at the Paramount Theater. Susan Hayward was honored by the Georgia State Senate with a resolution declaring her an "adopted daughter of Georgia." Hayward, born in New York, married a Georgian and they made Carrollton, Ga. their home.
Today, this family film is rarely shown on commercial TV. However, this February, the Christian Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) has aired the movie several times to mark its 56th anniversary. It is available on VHS tape.
They don't make movies like this anymore.
Calvin E. Johnson, Jr.
Kennesaw, Ga.
cjohnson1861@bellsouth.net