Our Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Roy Rowland

Writers:

George Victor Martin (novel)
Dalton Trumbo (writer)

Release Date:

September 1945 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Plot:

Life in small town Wisconsin. Selma and Arnold, aged 7 and 5, pal around together between their two farms...

Plot Keywords:

Editor | School Teacher | Barn | Wisconsin | Calf

Cast

Edward G. Robinson	...	Martinius Jacobson
Margaret O'Brien	...	Selma Jacobson
James Craig	...	Nels 'Editor' Halverson
Frances Gifford	...	Viola Johnson
Agnes Moorehead	...	Bruna Jacobson
Morris Carnovsky	...	Bjorn Bjornson
Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins	...	Arnold Hanson
Sara Haden	...	Mrs. Bjorn Bjornaon
Greta Granstedt	...	Mrs. Lars Faraassen
Dorothy Morris	...	Ingeborg Jensen
Arthur Space	...	Pete Hanson, Arnold's Dad
Elizabeth Russell	...	Mrs. Kola Hanson
Louis Jean Heydt	...	Lars Faraassen
Charles Middleton	...	Kurt Jensen, Ingeborg's Dad
Francis Pierlot	...	Fuller Junction's Minister

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:S | USA:Approved | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Rowland V. Lee Ranch - Fallbrook Avenue, Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The trailer for this film includes a specially shot scene of 'Margaret O'Brien' visiting with Spencer Tracy. Tracy tells the child star he never wants to make a movie with her because she's too good for him!

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the opening scene, during the two-shot of Selma Jacobson and Arnold Hanson, he can be seen mouthing her lines as she says them.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Forecast (1945)

Hard To Imagine A Nicer Film

It's true - this is about as nice as it ever got with a movie. There are no villains, no violence (except when animals had to be destroyed in a fire...and that wasn't pictured), and just a nice story of a nice Norwegian family living in rural Wisconsin.

The story emphasizes two members of the family: the 7-year-old daughter, played by 1940s child star Margaret O'Brien, and her father, played by famous tough-guy actor Edward G. Robinson. This is Robinson as you rarely saw him and refreshingly low-key.

Yes, O'Brien tends overact a bit, but some of her lines are so touching, so moving and delivered with such a soft, sweet voice that she gets away with them. Her gesture at the end of the film - no "spoilers" here - is so astounding I doubt it would ever happen in real life.....but it's wonderful to see.

James Craig, Frances Gifford, Agnes Moorhead and Jackie "Butch" Jeknins all add to this old-fashioned wholesome film. (If those words turn you off, by all means, skip this movie.) Jenkins can be a bit much, but he does add humor to the movie. Craig and Gifford make an attractive couple.

This movie is highly recommended for those of you who want a break from films with "bad guys" and a lot of "edginess."