Trouble Along the Way

It's nice to see John Wayne in a role other than that of a Western cowboy or a war worn soldier! Donna Reed is nice in this picture too! Definitely one worth viewing!

One of a handful of John Wayne movies where he goes against type. A wonderful and rich performance which has The Duke portraying a disgraced college football coach given a last chance on multiple fields. One on the gridiron and the other as single father staving off child welfare services from taking his loving daughter from him and awarding custody to a sincerely wicked & manipulative mother. My only complaint, and the reason it doesn't rate five stars, is the clear chauvinist perspective in the love interest aspect of the film. Clearly, one has to approach this, and any film, with the mindset of the period when written and filmed. So it's not particularly surprising to see the dismissal of Donna Reed's character - that she "only needs a good man" and the required forced kiss to make her see her wrongheaded ways. (laugh) Still, other than that one complaint, it's a wonderfully rich film with Wayne giving a genuine performance as a father who desperately wants to find a way to keep his daughter, and perhaps even redeem his professional and personal lives in the process.

WOW! I have an old copy of this on VHS from back in the day- a wonderful, charming movie! Endearing, funny, and at times serious, this movie covers the morality of sports, the faith of religion, and the hard work of raising a child alone. John Wayne is warm in this role, Donna Reed is wonderful as the social worker who falls in love with him and his daughter, and to all the great supporting cast, YOU ARE GREAT TOO! A can't miss charmer from the old days of black & white!