Home Town Story (1951)

Absolutely brilliant

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

HOME TOWN STORY is clearly designed as a propaganda film extolling American values of free enterprise and capitalism, that not only make money but work for everyone's benefit. In a long speech the British-born Donald Crisp, a veteran MGM contract artist, has the chance to tell bullying newspaper editor Blake Washburn (Jeffrey Lynn) about the folly of attacking big business people, especially when it is the same business people that ultimately save Blake's little sister Katie (Melinda Plowman) from death. In light of recent scandals about capitalists making astronomical profits at their workers' expense, such sentiments seem a bit rich now; but at the time the film was released (1951), it was most likely perceived as a vindication of American values at the height of the so-called "Red Scare." Of perhaps more lasting value is the film's depiction of the kind of small town values that seldom exist today. Suburbanization had yet to begin; and most residents of Washburn's town live close to the center. The main street is thronged with people; and the newspaper (which Washburn edits) not only sells well but includes stories of mostly local interest. Everyone knows everyone else, and try their best to look out for one another. When Washburn embarks on his campaign to discredit big business, he offends many of his fellow-workers, who believe that he is somehow undermining small town values. Slim Haskins (Alan Hale Jr.), his faithful sidekick, goes so far as to threaten resignation.In this safe environment gender roles are clearly delineated; the men go out to work while the women look after the home. Blake's mother (Barbara Brown) spends her time cooking meals and keeping the home clean; while the men bravely rescue her daughter from a collapsed gold-mine, she stands on the periphery looking worried. Direct action is not really her sphere of interest.Writer/ director Arthur Pierson's script is largely predictable, but does have the virtue of pace: a lot happens during the film's sixty-five minute running-time. Marilyn Monroe has a cameo role as a buttoned-up secretary politely resisting Slim's advances, but she makes little impression on the viewer's consciousness.HOME TOWN STORY is the kind of mild entertainment that was expected of a second feature at the time - not particularly good, but not particularly bad either, especially for anyone interested in Fifties domestic sociology.

Strange little film, this...I can almost imagine how they planned it (à la the conference in The Majestic): "For more emotional appeal, we need a kiddie and a doggie"... "Show how the bad guy becomes bad, then repents, in the face of high drama"... "The good guy must be introduced subtly, but then showing that all good comes from him and his company... a corporate doctor, a private plane that he pilots himself... Up to the life-saving motor (?) in the emergency room"... "And state (proof not needed) that his company treats poison waste well, and would never dump it into a river"... "To make the message sink better, let that gorgeous Miss Monroe say she wouldn't date the journalist, but marry the boss of a four-truck company"...What probably wasn't planned is that when the taxi drives through the vast "MacFarland" plant, the main building is labeled General Motors.Still, I found this film quite interesting, as a historic exhibit. I really enjoyed the bulldozer scenes.On another hand, the message that company profits let the customer profit sounds a little faint in these days of Lehman Bros., Madoff, and what else is in the news :^)

The Home Town Story didn't win Oscars or probably rave reviews. With the exception of Marilyn Monroe playing a receptionist/secretary at a small town newspaper, the film might as well have been forgotten. The story is about an unelected state senator who returns home to run the family newspaper with help and friendship from Slim (played by Alan Hale Jr. who played the Skipper on Gilligan's Island). Blake Washburn is the main character who comes home to his mother and his 10 year old little sister, Katie, and his fiancé, her school-teacher. Blake writes harsh columns about criticizing big businesses especially McFarland whose son beat him in the election. Blake writes harshly about the industry. It isn't until a crisis that he realizes his wrongs. The film is little over an hour. You only see Marilyn a couple of times. It's not about Marilyn but you see where she starts off.

Hometown Story is one of four obscure movies in a single DVD apparently designed to showcase an early role of an eventual acting icon (in this case Marilyn Monroe).It moves very quickly and transported this reviewer back to an earlier(1951),less sophisticated,but more idealized time zone. Although the Korean War(also unpopular)was raging,and McCarthyism was poking its ugly head;the film exhibited an existing moral that made our country great. It would be good for some of our younger and more cynical citizens to study as an example.The acting was not of today's caliber but reasonably competent.Marilyn in her small role already exhibited what was to make her immortal. The lead actor,Jeffrey Lynn was a good journeyman that never quite cracked the "A" list. Marjorie Reynolds,who later starred in Holiday Inn,but not another major film,was the lead actress.The venerable Donald Crisp had an important role,and as always was excellent.A young Alan Hale Jr.(Gilligan's captain)had a delightful part and was quite good.I also enjoyed seeing the group of uncredited actors who always added to the enjoyment of the film including Byron Foulger,John Alvin,John Archer,Hugh Beaumont,Tom Keene,and Ray Teal.I give it an 8/10 and disagree with all the naysayers.