Parrish

The first time I saw the movie 'Parrish' was when it was released in theaters back in the early sixties. I have never forgotten it. The score by Max Steiner is wonderful. Seeing screen legend Claudette Colbert on screen again after coming out of retirement was a sight for sore eyes. Parrish's three girl-friends: Diane McBain, Connie Stevens and Sharon Hugueny are all stunning. America's finest character actor, Karl Malden, is his usual marvelous self. Once again director/writer Delmer Daves gives his audience two hours of fine entertainment. Finally, the supporting cast is filled with familiar faces who have become famous and it's fun identifying them.

Last weekend I wanted to watch a film from my teen years... something that would take me back to those years of wonderment and yearning. I looked through my collection, spotted "Parrish" and knew I had found what I was looking forward. The story of a young man and his mother who move to Connecticut and involve themselves in tobacco farming, meeting a ruthless man and his family and a kind man and his spoiled daughter, it was a feast of young actors and respected mature stars. There wasn't a teen girl of those days and I dare say a few boys whose hearts didn't beat faster at the sight of Troy Donahue. His acting was pouty and wooden but there were those slim, handsome, blond looks, often wearing a red jacket that made teens break their clinches and sit up and pay attention. Whether he was romancing Connie Stevens (the first of their three films together) or Diane McBain (she hooked up with Donahue on the tube) or brunette Sharon Hugueny or whether he was emoting with Claudette Colbert (who came out of retirement for "Parrish" and then promptly retired again) or the esteemed Karl Malden and Dean Jagger, Donahue always came out second best in the acting department. This was Donahue's second of four straight films with director Delmer Daves and the older man certainly learned how to showcase the young blond hunk. The film has a bright and shiny look, plenty of melodrama and a gorgeous Max Steiner score. Get yourself some popcorn, put your feet up on the table and sit back and enjoy "Parrish."

Director Delmer Daves also adapted Mildred Savage's sprawling novel about four adjoining tobacco farms in New England, and the love, lust and sabotage which occurs there. Troy Donahue is the stilted, inert title-named lothario who arrives in town with his mother, a dignified Claudette Colbert (in her theatrical bow); Connie Stevens, Diane McBain, and Sharon Hugueny are Donahue's love interests; Karl Malden is the tyrannical stepfather and boss from hell. Beautifully filmed by Harry Stradling, but the heated melodrama is engineered to be overwrought (Daves probably wouldn't have it any other way!). It's actually more involving than it has any right to be, though the narrative (spanning several years) is ridiculously rushed along in the third act, and the romantic clinches are so florid they generate some unintended laughs. **1/2 from ****

Connie Stevens in her hayday with her old nose and delightful presence.A charmer as Lucy the bad girl with the heart of gold. Diane Mc Bain stunningly beautiful and a gifted actress at her best. Claudette Colbert utterly elegant,charming and a great performance as the single Mother. Dean Jagger strong but sensitive in his portrayal. Karl Malden the epitome of an actor doing his craft. Troy Donahue was so-so.Not a good actor but looking good at this point in time.Warren Beatty would have been perfect in this role as Parrish. Max Steiner the musical genius of this film.The music was captivating and gave the story that extra specialness.The film score was four stars here.

While the novel by Mildred Savage contains plot lines the film simply could not cover due to time constraints,the beautifully photographed "Parrish" is very enjoyable if you have read and loved the book.Some of the deletions from the novel tightened the storyline though at least one section (where Judd swindles Parrish on a boat deal) should have been added to the film to provide better character motivation and audience understanding.However,at 138 minutes (most prints) already this was not practical.To appreciate the novel and film, the time and place the story takes place (late 1950's rural America) must be taken into consideration.This was a much more innocent time.The actors/actresses used by Producer/Director Delmer Daves are a near perfect fit to reflect the authors intention;a mixture of attractive,unsure,inquisitive,opinionated and passionate teens/early 20's making their place in an adult world.Troy Donahue,not an actor of great expressiveness and polish,had the part of a lifetime as his limitations were the same as the title character.He became Parrish. Karl Malden as Judd Raike was brilliant. I wish there had been a sequel!