Behind every film there is usually a story and this one is certainly no exception. Howard Hawks departed the production two-thirds of the way through(whether he quit or was fired is debatable) and a reluctant William Wyler was instructed by Samuel Goldwyn to complete it. As the Director's Guild was as yet not recognised by the studio, both directors were given credit. If two directors were not enough, the tree-felling sequences were handled by Richard Rosson. These scenes are spectacular but guaranteed to have conservationists rolling on the floor and foaming at the mouth.
It would seem that the film was shot in script order and the rumbustious early scenes have Mr. Hawks written all over them whereas Mr Wyler's more subdued tone is evident later on. Both directors disowned the finished product and despite some telling scenes the film represents neither of them at their very best. Gregg Toland is behind the camera(Rudoph Maté for the tree-felling) and the soundtrack to the characters' lives is supplied by the Civil War ballad 'Aura Lea', later reincarnated as 'Love me Tender.'
It is the splendidly spirited performances that carry it through notably those of Edward Arnold, Walter Brennan, here making filmic history as the first actor to win a Best Supporting Oscar and the ill-fated Mady Christians whilst Howard Hawks' 'discovery' Frances Farmer is utterly luminous. Of all the stars that fell from the Hollywood firmament, the tragic Miss Farmer was surely one of the most dazzling.
It would seem that the film was shot in script order and the rumbustious early scenes have Mr. Hawks written all over them whereas Mr Wyler's more subdued tone is evident later on. Both directors disowned the finished product and despite some telling scenes the film represents neither of them at their very best. Gregg Toland is behind the camera(Rudoph Maté for the tree-felling) and the soundtrack to the characters' lives is supplied by the Civil War ballad 'Aura Lea', later reincarnated as 'Love me Tender.'
It is the splendidly spirited performances that carry it through notably those of Edward Arnold, Walter Brennan, here making filmic history as the first actor to win a Best Supporting Oscar and the ill-fated Mady Christians whilst Howard Hawks' 'discovery' Frances Farmer is utterly luminous. Of all the stars that fell from the Hollywood firmament, the tragic Miss Farmer was surely one of the most dazzling.