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Friendly Persuasion Photos

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Movie Info

The patriarch of a peace-loving Quaker family, Jess Birdwell (Gary Cooper), begins to question his pacifist values when the Civil War moves toward his close-knit Indiana community. Meanwhile, Jess's daughter, Mattie, is in love with a soldier, and her brother, Josh (Anthony Perkins), contemplates picking up arms to defend his home lest he be considered a coward. As Confederate forces draw nearer, the Birdwells must make some difficult, life-altering decisions.

Genre:

drama
Original Language:

English
Director:

William Wyler
Producer:

William Wyler
Writer:

Jessamyn West, Michael West
Release Date (Streaming):

Jan 1, 2009
Runtime:

2h 19m
Production Co:

Allied Artists Pictures Corporation

Cast & Crew

Gary Cooper
Jess Birdwell

Dorothy McGuire
Eliza Birdwell

Anthony Perkins
Josh Birdwell

Marjorie Main
The Widow Hudspeth

Richard Eyer
Little Jess Birdwell

Robert Middleton
Sam Jordan

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Critic Reviews for Friendly Persuasion

All Critics (8) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (1)

Exceptional Civil War-set story of religious differences.

December 24, 2010 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
Warm, gently satiric portrait of a family of the "Friendly persuasion" living in the shadow of the Civil War… does justice neither to Quakerism nor to just-war theory, but its warm affection for its subjects makes it worthwhile viewing.

September 12, 2003 | Rating: B | Full Review…

Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films Guide
Quote not available.

April 20, 2002 | Rating: 4/5

Nell Minow
Movie Mom
While painting one of the better portraits of Quaker life, the film's sober, Civil War-focused intentions are constantly undermined by slapstick situations and erstwhile tomfoolery.

January 10, 2016 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

David N. Butterworth
rec.arts.movies.reviews
In Wyler's Civil War drama, Gary Cooper's most popular film of the 1950s, the star plays his quinessential role, a pacifist family man who needs to probe his soul before using physical violence.

February 6, 2008 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Heartwarming account of Quakers during the Civil War

February 11, 2005 | Rating: 4/5

Daniel Eagan
Film Journal International
A big, colorful, entertaining movie that could only have been made in the 1950s.

February 9, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

Michael W. Phillips, Jr.
Goatdog's Movies
Quote not available.

July 29, 2002 | Rating: 4/5

John J. Puccio
Movie Metropolis

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