All the Way Home

It's an absolute travesty that this wonderful movie is not available in any form to those who might wish to see it. Warm, sensitive...this is almost as good as it gets. Seek this one out!

When I first watched this film, I really wasn't sure whether I liked it or not but after careful thinking and being honest with myself I have to admit that I like it. I have never seen such a tender portrayal than the one played by Robert Preston. He is in rare form. I was also very moved by Jean Simmons's character and the interaction she had with the other characters, especially the ones dealing with God, life and death. Aline MacMahon was a real inspiration in this film as Aunt Hannah--I had never before seen her in a movie to my knowledge and yet I really had and still do have the feeling that no one could have played Hannah as well as Miss MacMahon did. This film is about life, its ups and downs, tragedies and triumphs, reality and the choice of giving up or going on. This one's a real treat and blessing!

Set in the turn of the century, this is a wonderful period piece. Micheal Kearney as Rufus, the couples little boy is sweet and realistic. His father, Jay Follet played by Robert Preston is a top- notch, Oscar caliber performance. His interaction and love for his family is the most realistic that I have ever seen in a movie. Jean Simmons is great, too, her character is heartbreaking and moving. If you get a chance to see this, do it. I don't want to give away the story, but the tragedy she has to deal with will make you think about your loved ones and what it would be like if they were taken away suddenly. A real tear-jerker but a beautiful film.

When it came time to casting for All The Way Home, Tad Mosel's Broadway success based on James Agee's novel A Death In The Family, Robert Preston was considered and got the lead. Ironic because a year before Preston had to fight to get the lead in the film version of The Music Man which was his career role. He wasn't considered box office enough. But the huge success The Music Man was convinced Hollywood's elite he was indeed box office again. Preston and Jean Simmons got the leads in place of Arthur Hill and Colleen Dewhurst despite the fact that Dewhurst had won a Ton Award on Broadway. The play ran 333 performances on Broadway in the 1960-1961 season.

Agee's autobiographical work is set in Knoxville, Tennessee and concerns the reactions of the family nuclear and extended to the death of the father and breadwinner. The first half gives you a picture of the various family members and the second half deals with the sudden death of Preston playing the father. Ironically his father survives Preston in the play and in my family my grandmother survived mine and my mother survived my sister. So my family dynamic is similar to that of the Follets of Knoxville. Hence I could identify personally in a way with what was going on. Fate makes an additional point here by having Preston visit his father on a health related issue.

Shot in Agee's own Knoxville they got a good sense of what it was like in 1915 when the story is set. I get the feeling Knoxville hadn't changed that much in the interim years. One wonders what the area looks like now. The authenticity is stamped into the film.

Preston and Simmons are great in their roles. The highlight of the film is Simmons dealing with their young son played by Michael Kearney. This is one of the great performances given by a child actor because Kearney comes off as a real kid not some Hollywood kid. Simmons herself was brilliant throughout, but especially here.

All The Way Home missed a Tony, but got the Pulitzer Prize for drama for Tad Mosel as it had for James Agee in his original novel. The film is great and moving drama and highly recommended for family audiences dealing with what the Follet family deals with in the film.

I can't remember how I was fortunate enough to even see this movie. It might have been on Bravo. It is based on the Pulitzer prize winning novel "A Death In the Family" by James Agee. He also wrote the screenplay for this excellent movie. It is a small story about a southern family who love one another and what happens when there is a death in that family. Robert Preston is wonderful. His character has such depth and sincerity and the relationship between he and his small son is very moving. Jean Simmons is also very good as the pregnant wife in this small family. I hope this movie is available on DVD or VHS soon. I can't wait to purchase it. Highly recommended.