Yearling, The (MGM 1946, Gregory Peck, Jane Wyman)

Published

5 years ago

September 15, 2018

Based on the novel by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, The Yearling is the enduring family story of a boy who grows up as he says good-bye to his animal friend. Gregory Peck and Jane Wyman barely scratch out a living from their small Florida farm. Their only surviving child, Jarman, has a lonely life and wishes he had a pet. Given their circumstances, that’s out of the question, until Peck orphans a fawn. The boy and deer grow closer until the deer starts eating the family’s hard-won crops and a painful decision is made. Originally a project for Spencer Tracy to be directed by Victor Fleming, MGM revived the production and made it a great success. Remade for TV in 1994.

Director Clarence Brown traveled the South to find the perfect Jody for The Yearling and discovered Claude Jarman Jr., a Nashville fifth-grader with no acting experience.

Golden Globe for Best Actor: Gregory Peck.

Academy Award Nominations: 7, including Best Picture; Best Director; Best Actor: Gregory Peck; Best Actress: Jane Wyman.

Director: Clarence Brown Producer: Sidney Franklin Original Story: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Directors of Photography: Arthur E. Arling, Charles Rosher Jr., Leonard Smith Editor: Harold F. Kress Composer: Herbert Stothart

production details
USA | MGM | 128 minutes | 1946
Director: Clarence Brown
Script: Paul Osborn, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings,

cast
Claude Jarman Jr. as Jody Baxter
Chill Wills as Buck Forrester
June Lockhart as Twink Weatherby
Henry Travers as Mr. Boyles
Clem Bevans as Pa Forrester
Jeff York as Oliver Hutto
Gregory Peck as Ezra “Penny” Baxter
Jane Wyman as Orry Baxter
Margaret Wycherly as Ma Forrester
Forrest Tucker as Lem Forrester
Donn Gift as Fodderwing Forrester
Joan Wells as Eulalie Boyles