Home from the Hill (film)
| Home from the Hill | |
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 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Vincente Minnelli |
| Produced by | Edmund Grainger |
| Written by | William Humphrey Harriet Frank, Jr. Irving Ravetch |
| Starring | Robert Mitchum Eleanor Parker George Peppard George Hamilton Everett Sloane |
| Music by | Bronislau Kaper |
| Cinematography | Milton R. Krasner |
| Editing by | Harold F. Kress |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) |
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| Running time | 150 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $3,250,000 (US/ Canada)[1] |
Home from the Hill is a 1960 film directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Robert Mitchum, Eleanor Parker, George Peppard, George Hamilton, Everett Sloane, and Luana Patten.
The script was adapted from the novel, Home from the Hill, by author, William Humphrey. The film was entered into the 1960 Cannes Film Festival.[2] The film's title is from the last line of Robert Louis Stevenson's short poem "Requiem". This film was originally intended for actors Clark Gable and Bette Davis, but the roles then went to Robert Mitchum and Eleanor Parker. As of June 2012 the only credited surviving cast members in the film still alive are George Hamilton and Eleanor Parker.
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Plot [edit]
In the beginning, Captain Wade Hunnicutt, the wealthiest and most powerful person in his East Texas town, is wounded by a jealous husband. Wade is a notorious womanizer, who lives with his beautiful wife Hannah who scorns him. She has raised their son Theron to be dependent upon her, but as he reaches adulthood Theron seeks his father’s help in becoming a man.
Wade initiates Theron in hunting and other masculine pursuits under the watchful eye of Rafe, Hunnicutt's loyal employee. Theron admires the slightly older and more worldly Rafe, and rapidly develops into a marksman and skilled hunter; he also learns about women from Rafe.
Theron's new lifestyle leads him into a love affair with Libby, a local girl from a proper family, but her father’s animosity forces a secret relationship. Theron learns from his mother that the reason for Libby’s fathers scorn is Wades reputation as a womanizer. In this conversation he learns things about his parents that were previously hidden from him, including that Rafe is his illegitimate half-brother. We learn that Rafe’s mother is the root of Hannah’s anger at Wade, although the affair and Rafe’s birth preceded Hannah, and that Wade became unfaithful to her after Hannah turned him out. While Wade respects Rafe, his position is staunch that a bastard is not to be included or acknowledged.
Theron becomes disturbed by his parents' dysfunctional relationship and his father’s treatment of Rafe. A disillusioned Theron rejects both his parents along with the concept of family, and thus Libby, his true love. Unbeknownst to Theron Libby is pregnant, but she does not want this to be the reason for their marriage. However, a confused and despondent Libby turns to Rafe, who out of passion and compassion agrees to marry her. This devastates Theron who then realized his error.
All seems resolved until Libby's father overhears gossip that his daughter was impregnated by Captain Hunnicutt, and goes into a rage. We then see Wade and Hannah reconcile, at home, after seventeen years. After Hannah leave the room, Wade is then shot down by an unknown murderer who escapes. Theron tracks down his father's killer and sees he is Libby’s father. Theron kills the father in self-defense and soon after Rafe catches up. Though Rafe objects, Theron decides to leave town never to return.
In the end, several months later, Rafe encounters Hannah at Wade’s grave. He offers to include her in the life of her grandson, and she shows him that she has acknowledged him as Wade’s son on the headstone.
Cast [edit]
- Robert Mitchum - Capt. Wade Hunnicutt
- Eleanor Parker - Hannah Hunnicutt
- George Peppard - Raphael 'Rafe' Copley
- George Hamilton - Theron Hunnicutt
- Everett Sloane - Albert Halstead
- Luana Patten - Elizabeth 'Libby' Halstead
- Anne Seymour - Sarah Halstead
- Constance Ford - Opal Bixby
- Ken Renard - Chauncey (Hunnicutt butler)
- Ray Teal - Dr. Reuben Carson
Production [edit]
George Hamilton was cast after MGM executives were impressed by his performance in Crime and Punishment USA.[3] He and Peppard were signed to long term contracts with the studio.[4]
Filming location [edit]
Despite being set in Clarksville, Texas Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer filmed the movie at Oxford, Mississippi near the University of Mississippi campus.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ "Rental Potentials of 1960", Variety, 4 January 1961 p 47. Please note figures are rentals as opposed to total gross.
- ^ "Festival de Cannes: Home from the Hill". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
- ^ 'Bull Halsey' Role Readied by Cagney: Robert Montgomery to Direct; Bikel Opposed Sheriff Role Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 13 Mar 1959: A7.
- ^ Young Men of Movies Adopting Suave Style Hyams, Joe. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 14 May 1959: B9.
External links [edit]
- Home from the Hill at the IMDb
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