"The Romance of Rosy Ridge" surprised me a bit. While I assumed it would be a pretty good film given its cast, it turned out to be even better. It's a wonderful little film and I strongly recommend you see it.The film is set in Missouri 1965--just after the Civil War. Rosy Ridge is a sad community because it was a divided town in a border state and folks fought on both sides during the war. Because of this, there is still a lot of acrimony among the locals--with someone burning barns of the ex-Confederates. One guy, Gill MacBean (Thomas Mitchell) has vowed NEVER to have anything to do with anyone who fought for the Union.One day, a stranger, Henry Carson (Van Johnson) wanders by the MacBean farm. While Gill isn't very friendly, the rest of the family invites the man in for dinner and soon he ends up staying for some time. Now this stranger isn't a freeloader--he works very hard around the place and he's also very likable. However, when it comes to politics, he says very little and Gill cannot figure out which side this young man might have fought for in the war. If he is a Yankee, this is a serious problem for Gill, as his daughter, Lissy (Janet Leigh--in her first film) is falling for Henry. There is MUCH more to the film than this--but frankly it's better if you just see it for yourself. Suffice to say, there isn't much not to like about this film. The acting is very nice (particular by Johnson), the script superb (offering lots of twists and a wonderful surprise ending) and it's a nice look at American history. Exceptional.By the way, although it's not the same, you do wonder if the film was the inspiration for the "Andy Griffith Show" episode "A Stranger in Town" as there are some similarities.

I first saw this movie as part of a double bill about 1950. I loved it. The action takes place in the defeated state of Arkansas. Van Johnson is a soldier returning home after the war. He brings news of the death of a young soldier to a family awaiting the return of a son and brother. Darkness is falling as Johnson approaches the home and a bit of humor is evident as the father tries to determine the color of his trousers. Blue, of course, would indicate a Damn Yankee while grey would denote a true-blue son of the South. But the trousers are so old and faded one could not be sure as to what the original color had been. Night-riders are roaming the countryside burning barns and homes and murdering anyone in their way. Johnson stays and eventually falls in love and helps fight the night-riders. Johnson finally tells the family the story of his friend, how they met, and how he died.I understand that no complete copy of this film exists at this time. I for one, would gladly pay top dollar for a decent version on DVD. jkisaacs

The above line is from "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" but a few more like it would have considerably enlivened this sometimes slow but in fact worthy post Civil War drama. However,there are at least two other real winners in the genuine mean style,and even more of the same could have raised this movie to an eight rather than a faltering seven. For example:Exultant Wife:You'll always remember this day!Husband:As long as you live I will.And:Idealist Jonson:I joined this war because no man should be hated for the color of his skin.Confederate:It isn't about the color of anyone's skin, I hate the color of the pants you wore when you came down here against us.Jonson:This thing was really about the color of my pants?Unfortunately,the overall mood of the film is continuously uncertain.At times it is genuinely reflective and well timed ,at others it verges on the maudlin.Eleanor Parker or young Katherine Hepburn would have made a lot more of a hullabaloo with the same unchallenging script;Janet Leigh is simply too sweet and wholesome for words.Still despite a couple of ridiculous brief musical spurts,there are a whole troop of fine character actors,including Thomas Mitchel,Marshal Thompson(particularly good in the climatic scene) and my old acquaintance the inimitable O.Z. Whitehead. Moreover,Van Jonson,for once,is not studio typecast and does a fine job throughout,particularly with his barn musicale and in the final scene.All told, not the gem that it could have been but deserving of a lot better than it has ever yet been credited with.Definitely worth a look for any post Civil war buff or a family looking for a good clean afternoon's entertainment that has something to say.The director here is man of all work Roy Rowlands.And the reason that I am doing this review is that Rowlands previously directed "Our Vines Have Tender Grapes",one of the high points of American family drama. He apparently never remotely reached such heights again.The script derives from a story by Pulitzer Prize winner McKinley Kantor,a writer who more than once received less than he deserved by Hollywood.

IMDB reader, please note: The genre is wrong -- this is a romantic musical comedy -- definitely NOT a drama.Janet Leigh's first lead role, opposite Van Johnson, is a nice showcase for her beauty and musical talents. The Romance of Rosy Ridge is sweetly old-fashioned with some strong small-town type veterans on hand. These are adorable people to spend time with and enjoy their bumpkin mannerism, especially O. Z. Whitehead. Van is resplendent as ever in the male lead.