Frank Loesser's romantic ballad 'Roseanna' opens this nicely mounted Samuel Goldwyn film released through RKO. The catchy tune is heard on the soundtrack as beautiful shots of rugged outdoor country are glimpsed on screen. Though the rural footage was shot in California, it all seems like it could take place in West Virginia, where the story is actually set. One of the era's best cinematographers, Lee Garmes, goes to great efforts to provide us with memorable images that evoke hill country.
The lyrics heard on the soundtrack during the opening sequence go like this: 'Roseanna, oh Roseanna, I love her...I love...and now I'll need, I'll evermore need, Roseanna for my very own.' The I is, of course, Farley Granger's character Johnse Hatfield, who will soon meet his soulmate Roseanna McCoy.
Though Johnse and Roseanna both live in the same backwoods area, their feuding families live on opposite sides of Big Sandy River. This is not to say members of their respective clans haven't crossed paths before. Several clashes have already occurred involving older generations that fought and died. But for right now, this is a relatively quiet period of 'peace.' All that will soon change.
The first few scenes show Roseanna's brothers Tolbert (Marshall Thompson) and Little Randall (Peter Miles) and their dogs out hunting, something their pa Randall Sr. (Raymond Massey) doesn't like. He equates hunting with savagery, which is what those horrible Hatfields do. In pa's view, a more noble way to live is to tend to the land and farm it.
Ma Sarie McCoy (Aline MacMahon, in a dignified portrayal of a matriarch that does not rely on cliches) has her own views about the conflict between the two clans. But she stays out of these discussions and instead focuses on bringing up her children, which includes teaching her daughters, teenaged Roseanna (Joan Evans) and younger Allifair (Gigi Perreau), how to become homemakers.
This was Joan Evans' motion picture debut, taking the title role that Goldwyn had originally intended for Cathy O'Donnell. Evans was only 14 at the time, though her parents who were successful screenwriters in Hollywood, added two years to her age. It would be the first of three films that Evans made alongside Granger for Goldwyn.
Interestingly, Joan Evans was named after Joan Crawford, who was her godmother and had been a friend of her folks. Perhaps inspired by her character Roseanna's desire to be married so young, Joan Evans became engaged a short time after completing this movie. In 1952, she was wed at the age of 18, and 70 years later, she and her husband are still married.
Back to our discussion of the film...Evans was obviously still learning the craft of acting when she was cast as Roseanna McCoy, and Farley Granger was never going to earn an Oscar...so it makes sense that Goldwyn supported them with a strong group of character actors.
In addition to Massey and MacMahon, we have Charles Bickford playing Granger's father Devil Anse Hatfield, who is married to a woman named Levisa, portrayed by Hope Emerson. Other supporting roles are filled by Arthur Franz, as the guy that Roseanna's supposed to marry, before she becomes charmed by Granger at the summer fair; as well as Mabel Paige as a cud chewing granny. Oh, and we cannot forget to mention Richard Basehart.
Basehart plays a Hatfield relative who likes to stir up trouble. If this is a tale inspired by Romeo & Juliet, then we can probably say that Basehart's character is essentially Tybalt. The actor was fresh off a deranged role in REPEAT PERFORMANCE and a villainous turn in the noir thriller HE WALKED BY NIGHT. He is equally menacing here as a rabble rouser who causes considerable problems for both families. Due to an altercation he starts, tensions increase and violence erupts.
Part of me wondered if we would have a tragic ending, like the one written in Shakespeare's version of the star-crossed couple. But fortunately, Goldwyn does not take us in that direction, and despite a big showdown with everyone caught in the crossfire, the young lovers are spared. Other members of the two warring clans do bite the dust, but Johse and Roseanna get to enjoy happiness. The final shot of the film is them riding away from the carnage on horseback to find a preacher so they can properly be married.
Again we hear Frank Loesser's ballad assuring us that Johnse won't be separated from Roseanna because he loves her and needs her evermore for his very own.
The lyrics heard on the soundtrack during the opening sequence go like this: 'Roseanna, oh Roseanna, I love her...I love...and now I'll need, I'll evermore need, Roseanna for my very own.' The I is, of course, Farley Granger's character Johnse Hatfield, who will soon meet his soulmate Roseanna McCoy.
Though Johnse and Roseanna both live in the same backwoods area, their feuding families live on opposite sides of Big Sandy River. This is not to say members of their respective clans haven't crossed paths before. Several clashes have already occurred involving older generations that fought and died. But for right now, this is a relatively quiet period of 'peace.' All that will soon change.
The first few scenes show Roseanna's brothers Tolbert (Marshall Thompson) and Little Randall (Peter Miles) and their dogs out hunting, something their pa Randall Sr. (Raymond Massey) doesn't like. He equates hunting with savagery, which is what those horrible Hatfields do. In pa's view, a more noble way to live is to tend to the land and farm it.
Ma Sarie McCoy (Aline MacMahon, in a dignified portrayal of a matriarch that does not rely on cliches) has her own views about the conflict between the two clans. But she stays out of these discussions and instead focuses on bringing up her children, which includes teaching her daughters, teenaged Roseanna (Joan Evans) and younger Allifair (Gigi Perreau), how to become homemakers.
This was Joan Evans' motion picture debut, taking the title role that Goldwyn had originally intended for Cathy O'Donnell. Evans was only 14 at the time, though her parents who were successful screenwriters in Hollywood, added two years to her age. It would be the first of three films that Evans made alongside Granger for Goldwyn.
Interestingly, Joan Evans was named after Joan Crawford, who was her godmother and had been a friend of her folks. Perhaps inspired by her character Roseanna's desire to be married so young, Joan Evans became engaged a short time after completing this movie. In 1952, she was wed at the age of 18, and 70 years later, she and her husband are still married.
Back to our discussion of the film...Evans was obviously still learning the craft of acting when she was cast as Roseanna McCoy, and Farley Granger was never going to earn an Oscar...so it makes sense that Goldwyn supported them with a strong group of character actors.
In addition to Massey and MacMahon, we have Charles Bickford playing Granger's father Devil Anse Hatfield, who is married to a woman named Levisa, portrayed by Hope Emerson. Other supporting roles are filled by Arthur Franz, as the guy that Roseanna's supposed to marry, before she becomes charmed by Granger at the summer fair; as well as Mabel Paige as a cud chewing granny. Oh, and we cannot forget to mention Richard Basehart.
Basehart plays a Hatfield relative who likes to stir up trouble. If this is a tale inspired by Romeo & Juliet, then we can probably say that Basehart's character is essentially Tybalt. The actor was fresh off a deranged role in REPEAT PERFORMANCE and a villainous turn in the noir thriller HE WALKED BY NIGHT. He is equally menacing here as a rabble rouser who causes considerable problems for both families. Due to an altercation he starts, tensions increase and violence erupts.
Part of me wondered if we would have a tragic ending, like the one written in Shakespeare's version of the star-crossed couple. But fortunately, Goldwyn does not take us in that direction, and despite a big showdown with everyone caught in the crossfire, the young lovers are spared. Other members of the two warring clans do bite the dust, but Johse and Roseanna get to enjoy happiness. The final shot of the film is them riding away from the carnage on horseback to find a preacher so they can properly be married.
Again we hear Frank Loesser's ballad assuring us that Johnse won't be separated from Roseanna because he loves her and needs her evermore for his very own.