Friendly Persuasion

1956

Friendly Persuasion

Critics Consensus

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88%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 8

82%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,247
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Friendly Persuasion Photos

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Movie Info

Adapted from the best-selling novel by Jessamyn West, Friendly Persuasion is set in Southern Indiana in the early days of the Civil War. Gary Cooper plays Jess Birdwell, patriarch of a Quaker family which does not believe in warfare. Birdwell's son Josh (Anthony Perkins) wishes to adhere to his family's pacifism, but is afraid that if he doesn't sign up for military service, he'll prove to be a coward. Josh joins the Home Guard, which disturbs his mother Eliza (Dorothy McGuire). But Jess Birdwell realizes that his son must follow the dictates of his own conscience. Josh proves his courage to himself when he is wounded during a Rebel raid, while the elder Birdwell is able to stay faithful to his religious calling by not killing a Southern soldier when given both a chance and a good reason to do so. Allegedly, writer Jessamyn West nearly scotched her deal with producer/director William Wyler and distributor Allied Artists when Gary Cooper, taking his fans into consideration, insisted upon including a scene in which he forsakes his pacifism and takes arms against the Rebels. If true, then wiser heads prevailed, since no such scene exists in the final release print. Though uncredited due to his status as a blacklistee, Michael Wilson wrote the screenplay for Friendly Persuasion--and even won an Oscar nomination. Also nominated was the film's chart-busting theme song, "Thee I Love" (by Dmitri Tiomkin and Paul Francis Webster). The story was remade as a 2-hour TV pilot film in 1975.

Cast

Gary Cooper
as Jess Birdwell
Dorothy McGuire
as Eliza Birdwell
Anthony Perkins
as Josh Birdwell
Marjorie Main
as Widow Hudspeth
Richard Eyer
as Little Jess
Phyllis Love
as Mattie Birdwell
Robert Middleton
as Sam Jordan
Peter Mark Richman
as Gard Jordan
Walter Catlett
as Prof. Quigley
Richard Hale
as Elder Purdy
Joel Fluellen
as Enoch
Theodore Newton
as Army Major
John Smith
as Caleb
Mary Carr
as Emma, Quaker Woman
Edna Skinner
as Widow Hudspeth's Daughter
Marjorie Durant Dye
as Widow Hudspeth's Daughter
Frances Farwell
as Widow Hudspeth's Daughter
Charles Halton
as Elder
Russell Simpson
as Elder
Everett Glass
as Elder
Richard Garland
as Bushwhacker
James Dobson
as Rebel Soldier
John Compton
as Rebel Lieutenant
James Seay
as Rebel Captain
Earl Hodgins
as Shooting Gallery Operator
Diane Jergens
as Young Girl Elizabeth
Ralph Sanford
as Businessman
Jean Inness
as Mrs. Purdy
Nelson Leigh
as Minister
Helen Kleeb
as Old Lady
William Schallert
as Young Husband
John Craven
as Leader
Frank Jenks
as Shell Game Man
Jack McClure
as Soldier
Chuck Courtney
as Reb Courier
Tom Irish
as Young Rebel
Jean Innes
as Mrs. Purdy
Mary Jackson
as Country Woman
Joe Turkel
as Poor Loser
James Anderson
as Poor Loser
Harry Hines
as Barker
Henry Rowland
as O'Hara
Ivan Rasputin
as Billy Goat
Donald Kerr
as Manager
Steve Warren
as Haskell
Earle Hodgins
as Shooting Gallery Operator
John Pickard
as Ex-Sergeant
Norman Leavitt
as Clem
Frank S. Hagney
as Lemonade Vendor
Dan Kennedy
as Buster
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Critic Reviews for Friendly Persuasion

All Critics (8) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (1)

View All Critic Reviews (8)

Audience Reviews for Friendly Persuasion

  • Aug 29, 2013
    Gary Cooper brings his usual dull self into a film about a righteous man who doesn't want to do battle during the Civil War. It likely would have been picked up a notch if a Gregory Peck had have been chosen. Instead we must endure.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Sep 05, 2010
    This movie is very predictable, and sometimes boring, but the drama is pretty intense, especially towards the end, and there are good actors in this movie too.
    Aj V Super Reviewer
  • Mar 24, 2009
    This film is about a family of Quakers who struggle with their beliefs during the Civil War. It's interesting to see how the Quakers lived and their religious beliefs. The film goes into great detail on this and you realize how horrible it would be to be a Quaker. At times the movie is too cute with too many rear projections(the CGI of the 50's) The acting is great (Cooper does his aw shucks character) and the story is a good one. The film gets real good when the war is in their back yard and they must choose between protecting themselves or follow their religion and do nothing.
    cody f Super Reviewer
  • Feb 17, 2008
    Lovely small quite film
    jay n Super Reviewer
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