Of Human Hearts (1938)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Clarence Brown

Writers:

Honore Morrow (story)
Bradbury Foote (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 February 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

This is a story about family relationships, set in the time before and during the American Civil War...

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Civil War | 1840s | Presumed Dead | Poverty

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Walter Huston	...	Rev. Ethan Wilkins
James Stewart	...	Jason Wilkins
Beulah Bondi	...	Mary Wilkins
Gene Reynolds	...	Jason Wilkins as a Child
Guy Kibbee	...	George Ames
Charles Coburn	...	Dr. Charles Shingle
John Carradine	...	President Abraham Lincoln
Ann Rutherford	...	Annie Hawks
Leatrice Joy Gilbert	...	Annie Hawks as a Child
Charley Grapewin	...	Jim Meeker
Leona Roberts	...	Sister Clarke
Gene Lockhart	...	Quid, the Janitor
Clem Bevans	...	Elder Massey
Arthur Aylesworth	...	Rufus Inchpin
Sterling Holloway	...	Chauncey Ames

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #4018)

Filming Locations:

Agoura, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The title was chosen in a nationwide contest MGM held on its radio program. The winner, high school student Ray Harris, not only won $5,000 but also was a special guest at the world premiere of the movie in his hometown of Greenville, South Carolina. The film's battle scene cost $50,000 and required 2000 men to film. Ted Healy is on early production charts, but died before the end of filming. He is said to appear in one scene.

Quotes:

Rev. Ethan Wilkins: We thank Thee, Father, for this and all Thy bounties. Teach us to avoid the pitfalls of prejudice, pride, and vanity. Make us thoughtful of the weak, the sick, the needy, and the unfortunate, and make our humble lives a reflection of Thy goodness. We ask these things in Thy name. Amen.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Yankee Doodle Goes to Town (1939)

Soundtrack:

Yankee Doodle

John Carradine's performance stood out for me

I tuned into this movie at the point where James Stewart's character was summoned from the battlefield to meet with President Abraham Lincoln. I didn't know what had transpired previously in the movie and was waiting to see why the president would take time to speak to him.

I won't divulge all the details of the conversation but I kept thinking during the scene that this is one of the best portrayals of Lincoln I've ever seen. Physically the actor was very convincing and his demeanor was of the type I would except him to have. I finally recognized the voice of John Carradine.

I actually think that Abraham Lincoln could have had a conversation like the one in the movie with a regular soldier. He met with many rank and file people during the war. It was a great scene, well written and produced in my opinion.