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Hadsell

Movies: Wright's Greatest Sorrow

Click here to read the story:

• How and why Wright got into the movie business

• Which movies were actually based on his stories

• Which were based on stories he had never even seen and quickly despised.

1964,  110 minutes, color, Macco/Howco International.  This movies is also known as Thunder Mountain.  "A Macco Production, released by Howco International."

Reviews: The only 1964 review I have seen is in the Motion Picture Guide (MPG).   The reviewer says nothing good or bad about the film, but the description of the plot is rather confusing.   Rick Gunter, Wright movie collector says, "In the film version of Harold Bell Wright's 1907 novel, the Shepherd is attacked and wounded by the Baldknobbers. He is taken to the Matthews family cabin to recover and becomes involved in their problems. The Matthews family does not know that the Shepherd is actually the father of the young artist, Howard, who deserted their pregnant daughter years before. The daughter had died in childbirth and her son is now a mentally-disabled boy named Pete who lives in the woods. There is also a love triangle between the Matthews' son, Young Matt, the beautiful Sammy Lane, and her city fiance Ollie Stewart."

According to the MPG, Ollie Stewart (Houk) overhears bad-guy Wash Gibbs (Collie) bragging about robbing a bank.  Ollie tells the sheriff what he heard, a gun-fight breaks out, and Ollie is killed.  The Shepherd confesses he is the father of Howard and grandfather of Pete.  While he is confessing he tells the Matthews family about the gold he has secretly been mining and stashing, and gives it to them.  They use it to help the community, and of course Young Matt and Sammy are married.

It is apparently quite close to the story Harold Bell Wright penned in 1907.

Release:  Howco International Pictures

Production: Jim McCulloch, Howco International Pictures/Macco

Director:  Ben Parker

Writing/Screenplay: Ben Parker, from Harold Bell Wright's novel by same name.

Availability: Available from The Shepherd of the Hills Theatre (Branson, MO) $24.95 (2008) Available online at www.oldmatt.com.