Trouble Along the Way *** (1953, John Wayne, Donna Reed, Charles Coburn) – Classic Movie Review 9222

After four bit parts in films, James Dean has a fifth and final unbilled role as a Football Spectator in Michael Curtiz’s sentimental 1953 tear-jerking family drama film Trouble Along the Way.

Director Michael Curtiz’s sentimental 1953 tear-jerking family drama film Trouble Along the Way stars John Wayne as once-famous American football coach Steve Williams, who is engaged by Roman Catholic college rector Father Matthew William Burke (Charles Coburn) to create a cash-spinning team of winners.

Romance takes the form of Alice Singleton, (Donna Reed), the probation officer in love with Wayne, who tries to win custody of his daughter Carol (Sherry Jackson) from his ex-wife Anne Williams McCormick (Marie Windsor).

Melville Shavelson and Jack Rose’s bright screenplay is blown along breezily by the exuberant cast and careful director Curtiz in an unexpected foray into the family tug-of-love and religious territory for Wayne. The reward for straying off the trail is that this is one of Wayne’s least known movies, consigned more or less to the dustbin of history.

After four bit parts in films, James Dean has a fifth and final unbilled role as a Football Spectator.

Also in the cast are Tom Tully, Leif Erickson, Chuck Connors, Dabbs Greer, Tom Helmore, Douglas Spencer, Lester Matthews, Bill Radovich, Richard Garrick, Murray Alper, James Flavin, Ned Glass, Phil Chambers, Frank Ferguson, Howard Petrie and James Dean as Football Spectator (uncredited).

Trouble Along the Way is directed by Michael Curtiz, runs 109 minutes, is made and released by Warner Bros, is written by Melville Shavelson and Jack Rose, based on a story by Douglas Morrow and Robert Hardy Andrews, is shot in black and white by Archie J Stout, is produced by Melville Shavelson, is scored by Max Steiner, and is designed by Leo K Kuter.

The Catholic college is named St Anthony, the patron saint of lost things, among them no doubt, this movie.

While filming a tackle stunt, John Wayne injured his right arm and had to wear a sling when not on camera. He learnt to throw and write left-handed as his character.

Dean obtained three walk-on roles in movies: as a doggie soldier in Fixed Bayonets! (1951), a boxing cornerman trainer in Sailor Beware (1952), and a youth at the soda fountain in Has Anybody Seen My Gal? (1952), and then in 1952, he had a non-speaking bit part as a pressman copyboy in Deadline – USA, starring Humphrey Bogart, followed by his role as Football Spectator (uncredited) in Trouble Along the Way. After this he starred in East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9,222

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