Why they can't even have a legitimate name. Mule, donkey, ass. But a horse is a horse of course, of course. Jewish peasants in Anavtevka argue over the trading of a horse, claiming that it was a mule. Their reputation has them as stubborn creatures, sitting defiantly when they don't intend to move. But in films, little farm boys love them, especially Mexican ones, so that says something about their sweetness. Troubled farmboy Lon McCallister seems able to handle the two mules that their new owner (and his employer) Tom Tully can't, so he agrees to pay $5 a month for them. Unbeknownst to McCallister, the arrogant Tully is in cahoots with his nasty stepbrother to prevent him from completing the payment, all because of a vendetta against stepmother Anne Revere whose nastiness drove Lon's father out of their own home to his death.This film is known as the debut of Marilyn Monroe in a brief talking part (on and off in a second), and shouldn't be viewed with seeing her in mind. The female lead is the pretty blonde June Haver who was the musical rival to Betty Grable, and she's photogenic, charming and likable, if not completely magical. As her younger sister, Natalie Wood is as precocious as usual, but can't steal the film from the mules or lovable drunk Walter Brennan. McCallister gives a sincere performance, while Tully digs deep to show the many aspects of his bitter farmer. In her few scenes, Revere shows the ugliness of her character who has no redeeming qualities. The mixture of family melodrama and light comedy makes this rural slice of life film an entertaining time filler.

One reviewer referred to this old film as "bucolic," a term we rarely encounter these days. I have to agree that the setting is rural and somewhat tame about a young man, Lon McCalliser, who prefers mules over Natalie Wood. Well, she was only 10 years old at the time and June Haver was the primary female interest as I recall. Crusty old crackly voiced Walter Brennan was the old mentor in the film and the story really doesn't stir a great deal of memories, except it was about muleskinners and back in those days (I was 11 at the time), that was enough romance for me.Not a a bad old film, if you come across it on the late show. But, definitely bucolic.

First, the good news; this isn't a Red Skelton comedy, as one might fairly presume on the basis of its dismally uningratiating title.Second, the bad news (which turns out not really so bad after all), it's actually just another 40s Fox B-movie horsey drama.Thirdly, the factual news. Yes, this IS Marilyn Monroe's first screen performance with dialogue, albeit in this print consisting of a salute of "Hi!" to June Haver over and done with before the retina has any chance to pass muster over the event. Speculation and debate still seems to rage over whether or not alternate versions of this film, featuring alternate MM footage, exist (chiefly some business in a canoe, which certainly I did not see in this particular print).Lastly, the reality of the film itself and revelation of the title mystery. Homesteader half-brothers bicker tiresomely over mule raising and racing - yes, MULES. The title refers to the human call used to rouse them into action; but against the odds this is far from as asininely scripted as that synopsis would lead you to expect.Not that that is to concede much, but it must be remarked upon that the Technicolor production is endearingly mounted by Ernest Palmer (slumming inbetween 'big' projects), with verdance particularly resplendent in the farming sequences. On the thespian front, Revere does her Fox-standby bit as a resilient matriarch (despite being only in her mid 40s), in addition to 9-year-old Natalie Wood; churning out sarcastic aphorisms almost worthy of WC Fields, but totally unsmackable due to the precocious sagacity of her delivery.

"Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!" refers to calls the driver uses to direct his team of mules when out working on a job. After seeing the film on "The Late Show" as a teenager, I was a June Haver fan for a while, so I was thrilled when I saw and approached her in Restored Williamsburg, Virginia with her husband, Fred McMurray in the spring of 1962. Marilyn Monroe was to have a small part in Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! She was standing by a tree and when the character of Snug encountered her, she said, "Hello." But that part got cut out before the film went into the can. I think Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! is noteworthy in that it is the only film I can think of in which Walter Brennan plays something other than comedy relief or somebody's sidekick. Look it over when you have the chance and see if you don't think he is formulatin' the character of Grandpappy Amos of "The Real McCoys."