Strong and Moving!

Just perfect...

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Knowing nothing about this firm, apart from the very handy cast, I was surprised and pleased how good it was. The story is simple and not especially original - a family in the logging business defy a strike by the unionised labour in their district and keep working - but it is told with considerable intelligence and gusto.The entire cast are excellent; they are working with a strong script (an adaptation from a book, which I have not read); and Paul Newman proves himself a skillful director, in this first- up effort. The film's greatest impact point, however, is its setting, in Oregon, and the extensive and exciting sequences of tree felling, trimming, hauling and rafting. These are not fillers; they lie the heart of the film and drive the narrative. Two scenes stand out, in particular: when Hank (Newman's character) is trying to keep his brother (who is trapped under a log in the river) from drowning, by mouth to mouth resuscitation underwater; and Henry Fonda, the mortally injured family patriarch Henry Stamper, in hospital, defying death right to his last gasp.The central conflict is between the independent, accountable-to-no-one Stamper family and the lumbermen's union, but the more telling commentary on the Stamper philosophy is provided by Lee Remick's character, Hank's wife. On the back of a typically sensitive and wry Remick performance, she is the real counterpoint to the macho, 'life is work, shagging and drinking' world view the family personify. It's not that she wishes to tear it down or even repudiate it; she simply finds it is not enough.The camera-work and editing are first class. The DVD looks and sounds great. There is enormous energy in the production, which builds to a powerful and convincing conclusion.

This film was directed by Paul Newman and he's also one of the stars of "Sometimes a Great Notion". It sure helped him that he had such good support from the likes of Henry Fonda, Michael Sarrazin, Richard Jaeckel and Lee Remick.The film is about a very bull-headed family whose logging business is on the edge of bankruptcy. The family patriarch (Fonda) refuses to budge with the unions and it's hard to fulfill his contracts with so few workers. So, it's up to his family to bust their butts to get the job done. All during which the entire town has grown to hate them--they're out of work and resent the family. Eventually, tragedy strikes and in the end the family is destroyed---and yet, the sons seem unwilling to admit defeat.All in all, this is a very depressing film. Yes, the acting is nice, but the film is a big downer--and I am pretty sure the average viewer will be rather depressed by the film. Not a feel-good film, that's for sure. Also, the family isn't particularly likable. As a result, the final product, as one other reviewer put it, is rather lackluster. Not a bad film but not an especially memorable one either.By the way, this film is NOT for the squeamish. The film features one of the more harrowing scenes I've ever seen in a movie and if you see this one, you'll know what I mean.

I also vividly remember this movie, and would love to see it again. The scene with Richard Jaekel and the logging accident is unbelievable. There are many other memorable scenes. I wonder why it is not on DVD? I searched Netflix, and it isn't there. I guess I will just have to wait for it to come around on cable! Or do they only show movies that have made it to DVD on cable? With so many great actors, an excellent story (Ken Kesey) and memorable performances, there's no reason for this to languish in obscurity. I would like to hear some other opinions. It's the kind of movie (at least for me) that you remember forever, so I'm hoping some others remember it as well and can give their opinions.

The scene in which Paul Newman is trying to keep Richard Jaeckel alive using mouth-to-mouth is one of the most haunting and memorable from that era's films (late 60s/early 70s; for my money, the true golden age of cinema). Here are some others I would compare it to: 1.) Oliver Reed vs. a pack of wolves in "The Trap". Reed's greatness as an actor was overshadowed by his off-screen, alcohol-induced antics, but watch him, outnumbered, terrified and enraged, fighting for his life in this scene - he was never better. 2.) The final slow-motion rodeo scene in J.W. Coop: Final score: Bull 1, Cliff Robertson 0. Still can't figure out how they filmed it - it looks like a snuff film. 3.) The opening 'frying pork chop' sequence from "Electra Glide In Blue". Flabbergasting and brilliant.