SPENCER'S MOUNTAIN
DIRECTED, PRODUCED AND WRITTEN BY DELMER DAVES
MUSIC BY MAX STEINER
WARNER BROS. PICTURES
Information from IMDb
Plot Summary
As the patriarch of a large and growing family, Clay Spencer (Henry Fonda)
is fiercely independent, yet dedicated to his family.
While he resists the influence of religion, he struggles to remain faithful to his wife
Olivia (Maureen O'Hara), allow his son (James MacArthur) to attend college,
and build a new home for his family.
The film centers on the trials and tribulations of the Spencers,
a frontier family living in the Grand Teton Mountains of Wyoming.
Full Cast
Henry Fonda .... Clay Spencer
Maureen O'Hara .... Olivia Spencer
James MacArthur .... Clayboy Spencer
Donald Crisp .... Grandpa Spencer
Wally Cox .... Preacher Goodman
Mimsy Farmer .... Claris Coleman
Virginia Gregg .... Miss Parker
Lillian Bronson .... Grandma Spencer
Whit Bissell .... Dr. Campbell
Hayden Rorke .... Colonel Coleman
Kathy Bennett .... Minnie-Cora Cook
Dub Taylor .... Percy Cook
Hope Summers .... Mother Ida
Ken Mayer .... Mr. John
Bronwyn FitzSimons .... College Secretary
Barbara McNair .... Graduation Singer
Larry D. Mann .... Spencer Brother
Robert 'Buzz' Henry .... Spencer Brother
James O'Hara .... Spencer Brother (as Jim O'Hara)
Victor French .... Spencer Brother
Michael Greene .... Spencer Brother
Med Flory .... Spencer Brother
Ray Savage .... Spencer Brother
Mike Henry .... Spencer Brother
Gary Young .... Mat Spencer
Michael Young .... Mark Spencer
Veronica Cartwright .... Becky Spencer
Ricky Young .... Luke Spencer
Susan Young .... Shirley Spencer
Rocky Young .... John Spencer
Kym Karath .... Pattie-Cake Spencer
Michele Daves .... Donnie Spencer
William Breen .... Mountain Main
Rory Mallinson
Writing Credits
Delmer Daves
Earl Hamner Jr. novel
Cinematography
Charles Lawton Jr.
Trivia
Average Shot Length = ~6.8 seconds. Median Shot Length = ~6.6 seconds.
Final film of Donald Crisp.
Maureen O'Hara's real-life daughter, Bronwyn FitzSimons, plays the part of the college dean's secretary.
According to a Henry Fonda interview seen on the DVD version of this movie, many locals of Jackson Hole, Wyoming were used as extras for scenes in the movie, such as the graduation of Clayboy.
Director Delmer Daves' granddaughter, Michele Daves, made her only film appearance to date in this movie, appearing as the youngest Spencer child, baby Donnie.
Barbara McNair's film debut.
In their book "How Underdog Was Born...", W. Watts Biggers and Chad Strover reveal that seeing Wally Cox's performance in this movie inspired them to ask him to voice their newly created character, Underdog.
Goofs
Continuity: In the scene where Clay is milking the cow, "Chance," she is first seen without a halter, then with one in the next shot, then again moments later without it.
Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Grandma Spencer is reading her husband's will, her voice is out of sync with her movements.
Revealing mistakes: When the new house is burning in the final scenes, you can see the pipes for the fuel that ignites the fire.
Revealing mistakes: When Clay Sr. breaks his leg, there is no blood on his pant leg despite Clay Jr. mentioning that the leg bone had broken through the skin.
Filming Locations
California, USA
Grand Teton National Park, Moose, Wyoming, USA
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County - 900 Exposition Boulevard, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, USA
(Clay Sr drives to talk to the dean)
Raymond, California, USA