From the 1950s: Come Next Spring

1956 Drama

From Republic Pictures

Directed by R. G. Springsteen

Starring

Ann Sheridan

Steve Cochran

Walter Brennan

Sherry Jackson

Richard Eyer

Edgar Buchanan

Sonny Tufts

James Westmoreland

Here is a gem of a little rural family film released by Republic Pictures two years before it closed its gates.  Known for its devotion to B movies, actors and directors who had seen better days, once in a great while it made something worth talking about.  The best film to ever come out of the studio was likely 1952's The Quiet Man but it was more devoted to the cowboy antics of a young John Wayne, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry.

The story opens in Prohibition-era Arkansas when a man (Cochran) returns to the family farm after abandoning his wife (Sheridan) and mute daughter (Jackson) nine years earlier.  Walking up to the farm, the first person he meets is the son (Eyer) he never knew he had.  Cochran had a problem with alcohol and accepting responsibility but has now changed and wants to be welcomed back into the fold.

We never have any doubt that he will be accepted back or that his loving relationship with his children will aid him in that endeavor or that the ending will be as emotional and satisfying as it is but it's what happens in between that makes this heartfelt film such a winner.

Sheridan, wary as she is, lets Cochran stay for dinner and then as he's about to leave, tells him he can spend the night in the son's bedroom.  Then as he's on his way the next morning, she decides he can stay as long as he earns his way by fixing up the farm and resists the booze.

Along the way we learn the daughter is mute because of an emotional incident involving her father.  We also see the parents' relationship improve (loved the writing on this score) and there's a tornado, a bruising fight with a bullying neighbor (Tufts) who has a yen for Sheridan and the finale where Jackson goes onto the forbidding Echo Mountain in search of her dog and falls over a cliff.  

     

What few flaws there are in the film seem to have been largely overlooked by its admirers due to the wonderful acting of the entire cast, most especially Sheridan and Cochran.  Both were looking for a resurgence in their careers.  Unfortunately Sheridan would retire from the movies the following year and Cochran would die nine years later.

She plays a tough-love farm woman with perhaps a little more tough than love.  She is embittered by her husband's betrayal and finding life without him difficult, she has had to toughen it out.  She comes to regret her toughness at the same time she realizes she still loves her husband after all.

One understands what Sheridan is going through.  While her hurt and lack of self-esteem seem evident, she's a single mother with a farm to run.  She's capable... in spite of herself.  This is a great, strong female character... something I saw years later watching Michael Learned as the mother on The Waltons.  Sheridan was always a formidable actress, a bit acid-tongued, good humor, fun to watch.  Ah, that's when there were great faces...

This is my favorite Cochran movie of them all because he'd never played such a decent, lovable character.  Oh my, the charm.  He said prior to filming that he was tired of being continually hired to play murderers and wife-beaters and wanted to play someone who was wonderful.  I'd say he got his wish. 

He's never been so appealing.  He is just a good ol' devilishly-handsome lad who needed to extend his childhood and has returned home as an adult, ready to settle down.  That is meant to describe the character but it fits the actor as well.  

While this is not a western, throw in Walter Brennan and Edgar Buchanan and it sure feels like one.  For me that's not a bad thing.  More than usually happens in a western, this film is rich with characterization.   That extends to the kids, too, Jackson and Eyer.  She lucked out that she had no lines to memorize and he was the adorable, precocious thing he always was.

Springsteen was a fixture at Republic... definitely one of its go-to boys.  He never rose to the upper ranks of his profession probably due to his long tenure with the studio.  I've enjoyed a number of his films.  The magnificent Max Steiner handled the music and the look of Americana through the Trucolor lenses of Jack Marta is inviting, homey and colorful.

We learn most of all about family and forgiveness.  It's about values and what's important.  These are good, decent people who have made some poor choices and what we get to see is redemption played out.  It's a great theme to relax your heart muscle.  It's a great tonic for these turbulent times.  I would say it has sentiment, certainly, but it is not cloying.

Adorable Richard Eyer

The film came about because of Cochran and his good friend, writer Marshall Pittman.  Cochran introduced Pittman to Sherry Jackson while she and Cochran were making 1952's The Lion and the Horse.  Pittman would wind up marrying Jackson's mother.  Pittman and Cochran tossed around some ideas regarding a man who returns to his family after abandoning them years earlier.  Pittman wrote the story that became Come Next Spring based in part on his childhood in rural Arkansas.  He wrote the father role with Cochran in mind and Jackson as the mute daughter.  Cochran formed Robert Alexander Productions (his real first two names) and gave Republic a first look.  They promised him an A movie.

My guess is the studio didn't know what it had in this fine film and neglected to provide it with the all proper publicity and fanfare on its initial release.  Some might carp that studio head Herbert J. Yates didn't pay much attention to his films unless they starred his wife, Vera Ralston.  A critic from the Hollywood Reporter said in his review... Wake up, Republic!  You have another "Marty" (Ernest Borgnine's 1955 film) on your hands.  Or don't you care?

Tony Bennett sings the title song over the opening credits.

Cochran attended the premier in Little Rock and was happy that the locals were pleased with how they were portrayed in the story.  They knew it was filmed in California.  He got a lot of compliments on his fine work playing such a warm character but the smiles faded when he realized the studio wasn't promoting the movie.  He would have liked to have known his little film did finally catch on and has a following.  And Republic?  Well, Come Next Spring was its last good film and they didn't even know it.

Here's a look at the family:

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