Watch Spencer's Mountain For Free

You won't be disappointed!

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

Looking for a family movie that explores the human heart and family" values? Look no more----Spencer's Mountain has it all! For the generation living in the 1970's, Spencer's Mountain was the blueprint for the famed TV series, The Walton's. Only the names were changed around a bit...Clay Spencer (father) was the character for John Walton and "Clay-Boy was "John Boy" But both films are situated during pre World War II eras, and the time frame was Depression / Post Depression. But it was a hard life---only for people that worked to keep their families fed and sheltered and also to make solid citizens. Clay Spencer was a man who deeply loved his wife and large family. Of course, Clay did like to kick back from the stresses of life by taking a drink or going fishing...but he was a hard worker recognized in the small mountain community.The family suffers many hardships because they are not rich but they have their dreams--that is what keeps them going. Even if their dreams do not come true-even if tragedy befalls them, they stay together. Knowing that also helps them getting thru hardship. Sacrifice is also a virtue shown--The parents giving up building their dream house so that there son can attend college.The acting is good and the photography is stunning! Spencer's Mountain is a film for all families that can be enjoyed by all generations

A note about Mimsy Farmer who plays Claris : she was very popular in Europe (late sixties/early seventies) when her parts were much different from the rather irritating love interest of "Spencer's mountain":Europeans remember "More" (but the movie is now mainly remembered for Pink Floyd's music and French people may remember "La Route De Salina" and "La Traque" :she often appeared completely naked ."Spencer's mountain" is rather pleasant ,particularly the landscapes which are nicely filmed.Henry Fonda (cast against type as a father fond of the bottle)and Maureen O'Hara play almost supporting parts ,for most of the time is given over to their son (James McArthur ) who is the real main character of the screenplay.Like in" Peyton Place" (1957),there are too many secondary characters and its concept would better be applied on "the Waltons" a MTV saga.The main subject is Clayboy 's rocky road to college ,at a time when Latin -particularly if you wanted to become a minister ruled over the educated world .but it was a long time ago and the movie may seem naive (but no more than "wild in the country" in which Elvis Presley registered the same desire).Sometimes it recalls "die Trapp Familie" (whose remake "the sound of music" was a blockbuster) for the poor.It's interesting to note that after 1959,Delmer Daves gave up westerns ,his forte,("Broken arrow" " the last wagon" "3:10 to Yuma" "the hanging tree") to tackle melodrama .His last work " The battle of the Villa Fiorita" (feat.O'Hara again)was another family chronicle but in a posh milieu this time.

This movie was very enjoyable. It was fun, heartwarming & great story for the whole family. If you like "The Walton's" you will like "Spencer's Mountain" Henry Fonda does a wonderful job trying to care for his "babies" This movies proves that not all dreams have to come true to be happy. Sometimes you can be happy right where you are if you are, if you only give life a chance. Maureen O'Hara couldn't of done better as her role as Clay Spencer's wife. Also Wally Cox was super as the new preacher in town. This movie will have you laughing and crying. It is one of the best. I have watched this movie many times and know I will watch it several more times.

I had seen this movie in high school with a friend I grew up with and his family at a Drive-In, and it made such an impression on me at that time, probably because of the wholesomeness of the whole thing; I saw it several times thereafter, but, until recently had not viewed it for years; I bought the DVD version and watched it last night and it was just as I had remembered it, a family movie, the likes of which you will never see again.... I especially enjoyed the extras, including the premiere newsreel and interviews; the scenery is breathtaking especially on a large screen TV, and the story always keeps your interest...it is hard to explain, but to someone of my generation, they just don't make them like this anymore!! What a joy to see such actors as Henry Fonda, Maureen O'Hara, Wally Cox, Virginia Gregg, Lillian Bronson, and Donald Crisp displaying their fine talents in this film... IT was interesting to see what a fine job James MacArthur did prior to Hawaii Five O, as he had done in several Disney pictures of the era....there is a very young Kim Karayth, who later went on to fame as the youngest sibling in The Sound Of Music and other family pictures, and Veronica Cartwright, who played on many television series and also in the Hitchcock thriller "The Birds." This was the heyday of family moviemaking...where did it all go??