User reviews

Having ran across this film on the Fox movie channel on a lazy Friday afternoon, I can think of no better way to spend a lazy Friday evening then putting in my two cents worth. Especially when you consider the lack of user comments on it. Doesn't every movie, good or bad deserve more than four comments? And this movie isn't bad at all.

The first thing to keep in mind when watching a film like April Love is to remember the era from which it came, in this case the late fifties. Films were pretty much a happy medium back then. The cinemas were devoid of tragedy while the screens were filled with wide screen Technicolor films in order to pry people away from the gray glare of the evil medium in a box called television. I don't know how many people were pried away from the boob tube to see this one, but it managed to capture my attention for 97 minutes.

Teen Idol Pat Boone plays Nick Conover, a young teen sent to live with his Aunt Henrietta (Jeanette Nolan) and Uncle Jed (Arthur O'Connell) out in the country after being put on probation for stealing a car. It seems that his Aunt and Uncle have lost their own son (Jed Jr.)so Uncle Jed seems has lost his zest for living. Aunt Henrietta is hoping that Nick being on the farm will somehow bring Jed out of his doldrums. Story lines like this being what they are, Jed and Nick don't really care for each other too much of course. Nick then proceeds to meet up with the neighbors, Fran (Dolores Michaels)and Liz (Shirley Jones)Templeton. Immediately Nick develops a crush on Fran, and of course I don't have to tell you that Liz develops a crush on Nick. Then there's the matter of Uncle Jed's horse, a trotter who has turned wild and won't let anyone handle him since the death of Jed Jr. You could probably fill in everything that happens from that point on your own, seeing as how there are no real surprises. Doesn't matter though, you'll enjoy yourself anyway.

Once you get over the image of squeaky clean Pat Boone, as a supposedly bad boy, you'll have no trouble with the rest of the film. Considering that, Boone does turn in a surprisingly good performance as Nick. Certainly the role doesn't require much depth, but still it's a nicely done job when you would least expect it. As Jed, Arthur O'Connell is the perfect choice for the role. In the early going, he is unreachable and cold, but as he slowly warms up to Nick, we see that he's really a pretty good guy. Jeannette Nolan is a lot of fun as Henrietta, who is constantly playing the part of mediator between Jed and Nick. Shirley Jones takes a break from Rodgers And Hammerstein and gets a few opportunities to grace us with her singing talents. As Liz, she's gorgeous to look at, great to listen to, and quite funny at times. Dolores Michaels as Fran, who is a bit more on the wild side, is equally entertaining.

The best thing about April Love, is that there is not a true mean conniving character of any sort on the screen. Not one true villain in the whole thing. Everybody is so darn likable you can't help but enjoy the film. I truthfully find it quite refreshing, sort of like putting your troubles behind you and enjoying a summer picnic with friends. Think of it as the old Andy Griffith show with musical numbers, a little more plot, and wide screen Technicolor. The songs are a mixed bag, with the title song April Love being the best of them. Another thing I really liked is that they didn't fall back on using blue screen backdrops during the horse racing sequences, and they quite a bit more entertaining and exciting because of it. As a matter of fact, you'll find the whole film beautifully photographed and it was nice to see they didn't skimp in that department. The chemistry between Jones and Boone is good. Best of all is how the dislike between Nick and Jed is portrayed as each try in some way to gain the others respect.

This movie will never be confused with great cinema. Yet, sometimes instead of going to Disneyland, one just needs a nice outing in the park, and that's what April Love is.

My Grade: B+

Troublemaking kid from Chicago, sent to his aunt and uncle's stud farm for rehabilitation, becomes involved with two neighboring sisters, one of whom is an accomplished horse-trotter. Flowery 20th Century-Fox remake of their 1944 family film "Home In Indiana," based on George Agnew Chamberlain's novel "The Phantom Filly," is bucolic and pleasant, with a scenario that comes equipped with Sammy Fain songs designed to showcase the singing stars, Pat Boone and Shirley Jones. Any signs of sexual chemistry between the two have been thoroughly scoured--the previous version was actually friskier and not so chaste--however, there's nothing truly embarrassing here save for Jones taking a shower while holding her high note. Boone may have been too old already to be convincing as a teenage hooligan, but his low-keyed personality (with angst bubbling just under the surface) gives the actor some unexpected substance. Boone's scratchy relationship with uncle Arthur O'Connell is bitter-tinged, while Jones' frustration being treated as a pal, "a good sport," is also interesting. The picture looks good in widescreen and has several fine scenes, including Boone singing the Oscar-nominated title tune at a community dance for the prize of 15 dollars. **1/2 from ****

It was hard to avoid hearing April Love during 1957, it was number one on the charts for a bit. With every minute that Pat Boone sang this song on the radio it was just free advertising for the film that this was the title song for.

Pat plays a kid from Chicago who's been sent out to his uncle and aunt's farm while he sits out a bit of juvenile joy riding in a stolen car for which he's gotten probation and a suspended license. After a bit of trouble he proves useful around the farm and makes the acquaintance of neighbor sisters Dolores Michaels and Shirley Jones. They both kind of like Pat, but it's Jones he makes the music with.

Besides April Love Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster wrote a bunch of other songs for Pat and Shirley to sing. Nothing anywhere near as memorable as the title song. It got the only Oscar recognition for April Love, a nomination for Best Original Song. It however lost to All The Way in 1957.

What Pat also does is take up harness racing the way Lon McCallister did in Home In Indiana for which April Love is a remake. A sore subject in the house as O'Connell and Nolan lost their own son and this was his thing.

April Love holds up well after 60 years. As I write this it's one of the few films of the era where both leading man and woman are still with us. Doubt it will be remade though, you don't get singers like Pat Boone and Shirley Jones any more.

This film is one of those clean cut, light hearted, just fun movies. The scenery is beautiful and the plot is simple. Of course watching Pat Boone play a bad boy (I use that term loosely since by today's standards, his behavior would be considered clean cut) is a bit hard to swallow. This movie was quite a bit before my time, but there are 2 reasons why I have a biased liking for this movie. One, it takes place in Kentucky where I happen to have been raised and still live. I think this movie is the best representation for what makes Kentucky such a great place. And 2 I am the grandson of the man that played Ed Hargraves, the horse trainer (Nelson Malone). He only has 2 or 3 lines, but our family looks forward to seeing this film every year and waiting for Nelson Malone to appear and speak his few lines.

Beautiful landscapes, good music, lovely couple, wonderful horses, nice love story and a bit of secrecy make this movie a pleasure to watch. The story about a boy (nice Pat Boone) coming to his uncles' farm quitting conflicts with law (movie's only flaw: Pat Boone does not convince as a juvenile delinquent. But soon forgotten: it works as a mere excuse for him going to the country) where he becomes a man training a racing horse and falling in love with neighbour (Shirley Jones) is both appealing and entertaining. A new version of Winston Miller novel already filmed back in 1944 entitled Home in Indiana. Both are nice. This one, more sweetened has lovely songs added, spectacular technicolor landscapes of Kentucky and a more sophisticated mise-en-scène, including a refreshing amusement park scene. Delightful entertaining especially for a summer afternoon.

Famous as the epitome of wholesome and boyish American charm, Pat Boone plays a juvenile delinquent who is sent from Chicago to a Kentucky farm for rehabilitation at the hands of his aunt and uncle. This film's idea of delinquency is amusing, and the romantic scenes are curious, if you realize that the married Boone was so upright that he refused to kiss for a film role. The Oscar-nominated title tune is lovely, as it floats throughout the film, with costar Shirley Jones at her tomboyish best showing great things to come in her film career with "Carousel" and "Oklahoma" in her future. The cast is filled with top-notch actors of the era and echoes of the 1945 film "State Fair," which was remade in 1962, starring none other than Pat Boone.

This dollop of candy-floss is just the thing to brighten up a wet summer's afternoon. It's a pretty mediocre film but at least it's pretty, shot as it is on location. It was designed as a vehicle for Pat Boone, a major pop star of the time but not much of an actor and for up-and-coming musical star Shirley Jones as his love interest. If they are too twee for your liking there's always Dolores Michaels and Arthur O'Connell to distract you. There are also a few decent songs on the soundtrack including, of course, the Oscar-nominated title song.

I just read the plot summary and it is the worst one I have ever read. It does not do justice to this incredible movie. For an example of a good summary, read the listing at "Turner Classic Movies". Anyway, this was one of my favorite movies as a young child. My sister and I couldn't wait until every April when we could see it on T.V. It is one of the best horse movies of it's time. It is one of those great classics that the whole family can watch. The romance is clean and endearing. The story line is interesting and the songs are great. They don't make movies like this anymore. Good acting and not over the top. Pat Boone and Shirley Jones are at their best, along with many other great character actors.

I've of course heard of Pat Boone but had never actually seen any of his films. So when I saw April Love with him and Shirley Jones I decided I had to check it out. Boone plays troubled young man sent from the big city to an aunt and uncle's horse farm in Kentucky while on probation. The story is kind of predictable, and while some of the musical interludes are lyrically quite saccharine and cloying, others are fine and or fun. Boone does a fine job, as does most of the cast. The end is a bit too perfectly wrapped up as well, but despite some problems, April Love was mildly entertaining and worth a viewing if you're interested in some old-fashion, wholesome viewing.

This is the type of picture I still love.I saw this at the pictures when it came out in West London in 1957 and again fell in love with Shirley Jones. I loved this type of film, wonderful music as usual from the Fox studio,no violence. I just bought the DVD from Amazon and really enjoyed it. I would love to know if the houses uses in this picture and the track still exist. I would take this film with me when Icheck out to that great race track in the sky. Thank you residents of Kentucky for your input here especially about the trainer getting the job. I do hope that somebody reads this and thanks everybody there for the contribution to this picture.

Elvis Presley would have been more likely as the young hothead on probation for joyriding in a stolen car, but he was now ensconced at Paramount making 'Jailhouse Rock'. Instead we get clean-cut Pat Boone, who like Elvis also occasionally bursts into song, although there the resemblance ends; while Arthur O'Connell puts a lot of effort (and screen time) into being the crotchety old uncle.

The second big screen version of George Askew Chamberlain's 1942 novel 'The Phantom Filly' (bigger still courtesy of Cinemascope than the original 1944 version 'Home in Indiana'), devotes more time to cars and songs than the actual of the original novel; as the new title indicates (even if we don't actually get to see him kiss his feisty young leading lady Shirley Jones).

I would like to comment on the movie April Love. It's one of my all time favorites because my father, Nelson Malone plays the horse trainer. I remember distinctly when Hollywood came to Lexington, KY, where we were living at the time to make April Love. My Dad had been in numerous plays and was a talented man. I talked him into going to try out for one of the bit parts offered, and lo and behold he came home w/the script. How exciting is that! Also, a number of my classmates were in the crowd scenes -- especially the ones shown at the amusement park. It's very nostalgic every April when I see the movie being shown once again, and the song April Love by Pat Boone is still played on the radio. Timeless and reminiscent of a time long gone when you see the movies they make today w/all the sex, foul language and violence. It would be refreshing to see more movies like April Love come back into focus...

I was fortunate enough to purchase one of the special edition Blu Ray versions of April Love and I could not have been happier after watching this wonderfully pleasing film with its rich color, musical renditions by crooner Pat Boone and accompanied by a very young Shirley Jones.

I wish the current film producers would take a chance on bringing back some of the story lines from the 1950's films that carry such a simple enough plot and rely on well trained actors/singers/directors and cinematographers to bring their stories to life as does April Love. This is a charming film starring Pat Boone as a somewhat troubled young man named Nick Conover, who by court order has agreed to move from his hometown big city of Chicago to temporarily live with his mother's sister, his Aunt Henrietta Bruce (Jeanette Nolan) and his Uncle Jed Bruce (Arthur O'Connell) on their somewhat run down Kentucky horse farm. Both the Judge and Nick's mother felt he had too many bad influences around Chicago and a stay on his Uncle and Aunt's Kentucky horse farm may settle him down from getting into any more serious trouble with the law.

Uncle Jed and Aunt Henrietta have recently suffered a great loss of life of their own son in the war so their nephew's unexpected stay is met with mixed emotions. Uncle Jed lays down the law with his nephew Nick that his assigned chores have to be done first before any free time is spared. Nick is initially sombre about his surroundings until he spots a run down tractor and a run down car that he could tinker with to see if he could get them running. There is also one (1) ornery horse that Uncle Ned and Aunt Henrietta have out in the pasture that they just did not have the heart to get rid of. Little did they know that their nephew Nick has a natural talent to not only fix broken down machinery but as well race their trotter back on the Kentucky Fair track that brings back a lot of happy memories for Uncle Ned and Aunt Henrietta that had disappeared more recently with the tragic loss of their son.

Ahhhhh, what a wonderful way to pass an afternoon watching this classic film. I really enjoyed this 62 year old film. It is a classic that should be playing more often on television re-runs for fans of musicals, dramas as well as horse racing enthusiasts.

I give it a 9 out of 10 rating.

I have seen this film dozens of times ever since it was released when I was a kid. Of course I was, and still am a Pat Boone fan and I also like Shirley Jones. What you get is two very wholesome, attractive young people in a delightfully happy story which rekindles memories of an age of innocence and respect. Maybe that is why it is so refreshing in the 21st century The tunes especially the title track were recorded when Boone's voice was at its best. It is no major drama but the characters are likable and believable and its charm is in it's feel-good factor. I have met Pat Boone and he is a genuinely nice guy on and off the screen. This movie is one which will always rekindle fond memories.And for that, I will always be grateful.

I saw this movie a couple of years on Turner Classic Movies and I loved it. I found out a couple months, that my grandparents were extras in this film.

I love this movie because I grew up around harness racing. Pat Boone behind the sulky reminds me of my father who was drawn to the trotters because, unlike thoroughbred jockeys, men of normal height and weight can be drivers.

Yes, the 1944 Home in Indiana is a better movie, but it's also a very different movie. April Love is light and easy to watch, a feel good movie. (Disappointing though that Pat Boone's religious/moral views prohibited him from ever kissing the girl! Quite a change from today's standard fare.) Home in Indiana with Walter Brennan (filmed in black and white with no hint that anyone will ever burst into song) captures the stress and struggle better thereby making the ultimate accomplishment more satisfying but it requires a bigger emotional investment.

Set in Central Kentucky, we find bad boy Pat Boone(!) as a juvenile delinquent sent to his uncle's farm for rehabilitation. Along the way to recovery he meets Shirley Jones, and gets involved with drag-racers. If this film were made in the forties, we'd see Mickey Rooney riding horses for Walter Brennan. Still, this film is a pleasant time-filler. Pat of course sings the title song, and he and Shirley have a fine time singing at the cook-out.

Pat Boone "almost" plays against type as a bad boy sent from the city to "avoid trouble", after being involved in "borrowing" a car to joyride. He finds an uncle in the throws of depression after losing his son in Korea, and a generally run down farm with only one asset, a champion pacer.

The movie does a great job with the melding relationship of Pat and his uncle, the great Arthur O'Connell.

The farm next door is a wealthy one ... meticulously maintained with a full stable and two beautiful daughters ... one of whom is Shirley Jones. Pat Boone and Shirley Jones are two great voices, and their numbers in the film are worth the watch all on their own. But also stick around for the great ending.

Contrary to what another poster mentioned, this was made earlier in the 40s as HOME IN INDIANA. He was partially correct, Walter Brennan was in it, but Lon McAllister was the juve star, this was a Fox film, and Mickey Rooney was an MGM player. This film must have been a sigh of relief to parents concerned about role models such as Brando and Dean, but the married Boone even insisted that he not be seen kissing a co-star, so we get one of the tamest screen romances ever in a by then cliched storyline that somehow managed to rake in big bucks, possibly fueled by what I have to admit is a decent title tune.

It is very dear to me, as we used to have a record of the songs in the sixties. It isn't a great movie, but it nevertheless thrills me. The Sammy Fain songs are charming, especially the title song, which Pat Boone sings with such velvet warmth. The unusual thing about this movie is its sheer joyfulness. It is one of the happiest movies ever made. Whatever drama there is, is tastefully subdued and underplayed. The movie would have been even better if there had been no drama at all, no plot of any kind. Then it would have been a truly great movie, a vision of paradise without strife and struggle and fear and anger. There is a pleasant phoniness about the movie. At times it is as banal as a soap commercial. The whole movie can be seen as one big piece of kitshorama, as a collection of every cliche: the cherry cheerfulness, the plastic prettiness, the lily-white, youthful, asexual, smiling, upscale, golf course, barbecuing inanity.

I hate it when people say the older movies were better but in this case it's true. This is a remake of the 1944 "Home in Indiana" starring Walter Brennan, Lon McAllister and Jean Crain. Even though the movie pretty much follows the same story line in an updated setting, the characters aren't developed as much, the story doesn't flow as well and Pat Boone as a "bad boy" is pretty much of a stretch, even 45 years later. If you have the chance, see the original. Even in black and white it is a better movie.