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Spencer's Mountain

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Spencer's Mountain DVD
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Spencer's Mountain on DVD


For a family picture, not to mention a story that later became the old-fashioned-values-affirming series The Waltons, Spencer's Mountain sure has a lot in it about sex. Henry Fonda gives an interesting portrayal in one of his more unusual roles, as Clay Spencer, the hard-drinkin', hard-livin', hard lovin', hard-cussin' patriarch of a fiercely independent Wyoming family living in the Grand Tetons. When he's not resisting the encroachment of organized religion on his daily life (he believes in God, but doesn't want others to tell him how to do that, or how to show respect to the Lord), he's busy trying to finish the house he promised his wife (Maureen O'Hara) to house their constantly growing brood, and trying to help his eldest son, Clayboy (James MacArthur) -- who's going to be the first Spencer to get past high school -- prepare for college and manhood, while temptation in the form of Claris Coleman (Mimsy Farmer) and Minnie-Cora Cook Kathy Bennett comes his way. There's also a good bit of human drama here, and some especially finely nuanced performances by Donald Crisp and Lillian Bronson, as Fonda's aging parents. Between their work, the CinemaScope photography, the gorgeous Wyoming locations, and a good basic story, this is a surprisingly engrossing comedy-drama of a kind that probably could not be made today, even with a top-name cast. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi
  • Sound By: Dolby Digital Mono
  • Released By: Warner Home Video
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Vintage documentary featurette: "Spencer's Mountain: Grand Teton Premiere"
Vintage interviews with Henry Fonda
"Spencer's Mountain and The Waltons" essay
Interactive menus
Theatrical trailer
Scene access
English, French, and Spanish subtitles

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  • Spencer's Mountain DVD
Spencer's Mountain DVD

Editorial Reviews

Although watered down from the novel that is its source (not to mention fortified with an extra teaspoon or two of sugar), Spencer's Mountain is an entertaining "big brood" family film that offers a number of pleasures to make up for its failings. It's a toss-up as to whether the biggest assets are its two stars or its gorgeous, breathtaking Grand Teton scenery. There's an awful lot of both of these assets, and if the scenery may finally get the edge, it's only because it doesn't have to utter some of the overly-folksy dialogue that Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara sometimes are asked to. It's a shame that too much of the screenplay has been "Hollywood-ized," as it reduces the characters from the living and breathing people of the novel to the cardboard characters that often crop up when Hollywood tries to present poor-but-decent country folk that are not hicks. The actors portraying the younger generation have a particularly hard time of it, especially Mimsy Farmer. Fortunately, Fonda and O'Hara are old hands at this game, and their work transcends the screenplay, as does the wonderfully understated work of Donald Crisp. Spencer's Mountain is by no means a bad film, and many viewers will find it touching and warm; but for others, it will seem a trifle too manipulative. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi