Home Town Story is a completely forgettable film. If it were not for two of it's co-stars, this film would have long disappeared. Alan Hale jr would go on to play Skipper on television's Gilligan's Island and of course Marilyn Monroe.

The plot centers on a bitter politician, Blake Washburn, who lost his reelection bid. He attempts to get revenge on his opponent by writing negative editorials about his opponent's father's local company. He gets his readers a bit riled when he goes on about the companies huge profits. In a groan inducing scene, the owner of the factory comes into Blake's office and gives a speech on the greatness of profits for everyone. Later in the movie, Blake's little sister gets trapped in a cave. The factory owner and his equipment come to the rescue and thus Blake learns to see big business in better light.

Don't get me wrong. I fully understand that the very greatness of The United States of America is derived from our capitalist society. Socialism does not encourage success. It attempts to maintain a status quo at best. However, this movie is so adamant about it's capitalist message that the plot becomes secondary.

Alan Hale jr plays the one and only character with any life in him. He and Monroe share the movie's best scene. Hale flirts with Monroe, who responds very cool. She explains that she treats men with respect so they will do like wise. Hale responds, "Is that a proven theory or something your just trying out?"

↑Back to Top↑

This movie is only remembered because of Marilyn Monroe, without her no one would care that Alan Hale Jr. was in it. It's true that he is by far the most interesting male character but in a movie this bad that hardly matters.

Donald Crisp is also in the movie as the wealthy benevolent businessman that comes to the rescue. Eric called his big scene groan inducing and the speech is pretty bad but I thought he was good in it. His character boasts that he will soon turn 65 and still has the vigor of a young man. In real life Donald Crisp was over 70. He had been around since the dawn of movies having played Ulysses S. Grant in Birth of a Nation in 1915. He continued working for another 12 years and by the end listed more than 300 movies on his résumé.

Watching this movie was like being back in seventh grade social studies class. They always made us watch cautionary tales in black & white with obvious political slants and bad acting. Jeffrey Lynn is just plain awful as Blake Washburn. He makes you feel absolutely nothing for this guy, except perhaps a vague pity.

This was Marilyn Monroe's tenth screen appearance. As always she is memorable. Everything she was in will live as long as celluloid, even a movie as unworthy as Home Town Story.

↑Back to Top↑