"Home from the Hill" starts with Rafe(George Peppard) saving the life of his boss, Captain Wade Hunnicutt(Robert Mitchum), when he is shot by a wronged husband. Even after that, Wade is not even sure which husband exactly, as Rafe would like material compensation for his act of heroism but is turned down flat. Wade's
son Theron(George Hamilton) is 17 and is only old enough to hunt snipe but his father feels it is time to change that. Amazingly enough, Theron takes to hunting and is a fine shot but his mother Hannah(Eleanor Parker) is angry at Wade because she had been promised to be put in charge of raising her son. Then, the wild boar shows up which Wade thinks would perfect for his son to hunt...
Directed by Vincente Minnelli, "Home from the Hill" is an engaging and epic soap opera that subtly dismantles the idea of the perfect patriarch. With very little sanctimony, the movie says there is more to being a man than bedding women and hunting, of which responsibility is a huge part. And there is nothing wrong with Theron being as learned as he is, but then this is Texas where men are real men, women are real women, and I don't have to remind you about the sheep, do I? Speaking of masculinity, Robert Mitchum is perfectly cast in the lead, while some of the other acting might seem a little off in retrospect.
September 18, 2010
