Of Human Hearts *** (1938, Walter Huston, James Stewart, Beulah Bondi) – Classic Movie Review 9157

MGM’s 1938 emotional celebration of America and family life Of Human Hearts is set in an Ohio town during the American Civil War, and stars James Stewart as Jason Wilkins, the wayward son of poor and honest preacher Ethan Wilkins (Walter Huston) and his wife Mary (Beulah Bondi), and features John Carradine as President Abe Lincoln.

Although he may be rebellious, Jason wants to be a doctor and loves his mother, in a peculiar but affecting tale that does dip in the second half, though the acting is rousing and Brown directs it all quite beautifully.

Based on a novel called Benefits Forgot by Honore Morrow, the Western drama film boasts its new title after it was chosen by MGM through a nationwide radio contest, won by a high-school student, Ray Harris. It was billed as MGM’s ‘Great $5,000 Title Contest Picture’, so the student must have won $5,000, quite a sum in those days. Who says movies don’t change people’s lives? Ray Harris was also a special guest at the world premiere of the movie in his hometown of Greenville, South Carolina.

Bondi was Oscar nominated as Best Actress in a Supporting Role. She played Stewart’s mother in four films – It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), Mr Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Of Human Hearts (1938) and Vivacious Lady (1938) – as well as once on his TV show, The Jimmy Stewart Show (1971).

The Roger Moore who plays an uncredited bit part as an attendant at the College of Surgery is the Chicago-born character actor (1900–1999).

Also in the cast are Gene Reynolds, Charles Coburn, Guy Kibbee, John Carradine, Gene Lockhart, Ann Rutherford, Leatrice Joy Gilbert, Charley Grapewin, Leona Roberts, Clem Bevans, Arthur Aylesworth, Sterling Holloway, Charles Peck, Robert McWade, Minor Watson, Ward Bond, Esther Dale, Stanley Fields, Roger Moore, Jack Mulhall, Phillip Terry, Morgan Wallace, Guy Bates, Rosina Galli and Anne O’Neal.

Ted Healy died before the end of filming but is said to appear in one scene.

These actors were cast but not seen in the final print: Frank McGlynn Sr (Lout), John Miljan (Captain Griggs), Frank Reicher (Officer), Willard Robertson (Recruiting Officer) and Morgan Wallace (Dr Crandall)

The film’s battle scene cost $50,000 and required 2000 men.

The story takes place in a small town on the Ohio River called Pine Hill, Ohio. There is such a town in Ohio but it is in Carroll County, many miles north of the Ohio River.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9157

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