Chance's Corner: Home from the Hill

"When you talk of GREAT Motion Pictures you will talk about this one!" is the tagline for Vincente Minnelli's film Home from the Hill. It's a very ambitious statement that isn't necessarily true anymore. Home from the Hill has fallen into obscurity since 1960 due to circumstances unknown. However, in my opinion, I think it is a movie that should be talked about more.

Home from the Hill takes place in the small town of Clarksville in the northeast region of Texas. Wait, what? The Clarksville, Texas that is just 36 miles from Mount Vernon? Yep, that's the one. Portions of the movie were actually filmed on location. The most recognizable location is the downtown square where the group of old timers are whittling and playing music.

Let's go Snipe huntin'.

The movie stars big name actors such as Robert Mitchum (The Night of the Hunter), George Peppard (Breakfast at Tiffany's), Eleanor Parker (The Sound of Music), and George Hamilton (that really tan man). Now who in the world could imagine that these four and Vincente Minnelli would be caught dead in Clarksville? I mean, Minnelli is known mostly for his elaborate musicals such as An American in Paris starring Gene Kelly and Meet Me in St. Louis starring Judy Garland (his wife at one time). Home from the Hill is well-noted departure from his usual film style, and perhaps that is why it is his least known work.

The main reason Clarksville was chosen is because it is the central location in the original novel by William Humphrey. The story revolves around the titular macho-man Captain Wade Hunnicutt (Robert Mitchum) and the trouble his wild oats has brought upon his wife, Hannah (Eleanor Parker), and his son, Theron (George Hamilton). Oh, and one of his wild oats just happens to be named Rafe Copley (George Peppard).

Theron's mine now.

The film is mainly a study of masculinity. Captain Wade Hunnicutt wants his son to be the "... kind of man that walks around with nothing in his pockets, no identification because everyone knows who you are. No cash because anyone in town would be happy to lend you anything you need. No keys 'cause you don't keep a lock on a single thing you own. And no watch because time waits on you."

Let me show you... love...

In order to achieve this level of manhood, Captain takes Theron under his wing, against his  resentful wife's wishes, and teaches him to hunt near the Sulphur Bottom. Rafe, treated as just some ranch hand by Captain, is also recruited to  help Theron "just like a big brother." There's plenty of hunting action at the beginning of the film, but the central plot circulates around Theron as he grows, falls in love, and as he is eventually corrupted by his father's legacy.

Robert Mitchum and company are all great in their parts, but the real star in this film is George Peppard. Rafe Copley, the cast-off son of Captain Wade, taken in but dejected in every other way. He longs for his father's love, even just the recognition that he is his son, but as chance would have it... I can't spoil the ending.

Sulphur Bottom is a bit more majestic and smoky than I remember.

Overall, Home from the Hill is an interesting snapshot of what small Southern town life can be. Everyone knows everyone's business. Everyone talks. Things eventually catch up with you. Just ask Eleanor Parker. 

If you're interested in seeing Home from the Hill, you can rent it at the Franklin County Library.