Because I was a youngster and raised during the depression years,the movie "SLIM" has remained with me all my life. It was the first movie I had ever seen with Fonda and as far as I am concerned, every time I watch it now, it brings back all those childhood memories of the Great depression. It took me many years to finally watch it again and because I was able to make a copy of it, I now watch it quite frequently. I can only wonder why it is not presented more often or why it is never mentioned whenever his list of great films are mentioned. At this time I am 85 years young and I still consider Slim one of the real great films of Henry Fonda.

This film bears a lot of similarity to another Warner Brothers film made just four years later (MANPOWER). Both are about two friends who work building and repairing power lines and both emphasize what a dangerous job this is. Despite these many similarities (as well as a somewhat similar ending), MANPOWER wasn't exactly a re-make--just awfully reminiscent of SLIM.The movie begins with Henry Fonda begging the foreman of a power crew for a job working on the power lines. Why he's so intent on this job is uncertain, but once hired "Slim" makes good and becomes fast friends with "Red". Oddly, no one in this film seems to have a real name but a nickname--such as Slim, Red, Pop or Stumpy!! But no matter, as the film is reasonably entertaining and worth a look to see what happens to the guys. However, I really beg to differ with one of the reviews that refers to this film as a "masterpiece" as well as "Fonda's finest film". This just isn't true and makes no logical sense--there are probably thousands of better films and Fonda made quite a few superior films that are light years better than SLIM (such as THE OX-BOW INCIDENT, JEZEBEL, DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK, MR. ROBERTS, 12 ANGRY MEN and THE LADY EVE). I can only assume this other reviewer never saw any of these great films.It's still pretty good and the only serious negatives in this agreeable little film is that at times the film is a bit predictable and you wonder what makes Slim tick--he just seems amazingly stupid towards the end of the film--turning down marriage to sweet Margaret Lindsay as well as a cushy job in order to risk his life. But no matter, the film is entertaining and worth a look at a young Henry Fonda.

One of Fonda's earlier efforts and certainly one of his lesser known films. Fonda portrays a somewhat naive, yet over confident young man from a farming background, who longs to become a linesman. O'brien plays the seasoned veteran who takes him under his wing and together, they embark on a journey from one job to another. Reasonably predictable buddy road movie type plot line, although interesting from the perspective of attempting to glamorize the profession in the tradition of" the mail must get through" theme. There is the predictable romance angle, the jealous worker and the inevitable coming of age for Fonda. All in all, nothing terribly special other than seeing two of the screens best actors paired in this family picture.

Running a mere 80 minutes, this little treasure packs in more action and character development than you're likely to find in some of Sly's and Arnold's big-budget blockbusters. A personal favorite of Fonda's, it's the story of a farmer's young son (he even plows the family's 40 acres behind a mule!) who leaves the farm to join a gang of linemen doing the grand task of electrifying rural America during the Great Depression. It's hard to believe, but historical fact, that prior to WWII, 75% of all Americans lived on the farm without electric power. Taken under the wing of mentor Red Blayde (Pat O'Brien), the boy Slim (Fonda) learns about life and love, honor and betrayal, and most of all, the nobility of a man's work, in the days when work itself was regarded as a higher value than just the pay check it brought in. Little moments stand out: Slim lighting up his first nickel cheroot; writing his Mom a letter home and including a $5 bill; leaning back in the passenger seat of Red's convertible as they ride down Chicago's Michigan Avenue, looking up in awe and sheer joy at his first glimpse of a big city. "Take a good look," says Red, "there's only two other cities like it in the country!" Rounding out the cast are Stu Erwin as Stumpy, the lazy and comical ground worker; Joe Sawyer, the "lyin' goldbrikkuh;" a glamorous Jane Wyman as Red's girl; always cheerful Margaret Lyndsey as the nurse who takes a shine to Slim; and stalwart John Littel as the company boss. From a top-notch novel (1934) by William Wister Haines, author of "High Tension," "Command Decision," "The Hon. Rocky Slade," and many others. Ten out of ten.