Our Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945)

Our Vines Have Tender Grapes
Directed by Roy Rowland
Written by Dalton Trumbo from a book by George Victor Martin
1945/USA
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
First viewing/Amazon Instant Video

[box] Martinius Jacobson: [Entering Bjornson’s new barn] You can still smell the new wood… finest smell on the earth.[/box]

MGM gets a family-themed drama right!  And you have not really heard the Christmas story until you hear Margaret O’Brien tell it.

The Jacobsons are Norwegian dairy farmers in Wisconsin.  The family consists of father Martinius (Edward G. Robinson), mother Bruna (Agnes Moorehead), and seven-year-old Selma (O’Brien).  Selma’s constant companion is her five-year-old cousin Arnold (Jackie “Butch” Jenkins).  The story is told through Selma’s eyes and is basically a slice of their lives.

Norwegian-speaking Ph.D. candidate Viola Johnson (Frances Gifford) arrives from Milwaukee for a year of practice teaching.  She considers the community to be an ignorant, hypocritical backwater and wants to get out of there as soon as possible.  Nels Halverson, the editor of the local newspaper, falls in love with her and tries to change her mind.

The story takes place over one school year.  We see times of happiness, sadness, and fear, all flavored with family love and a tradition of sharing with neighbors. The two kids get up to their share of mischief in the process.

Thank heaven nobody even attempts a Norwegian accent here.  The fine actors and screenplay keep this from getting too saccharine.  How can Edward G. Robinson and Agnes Moorehead, and together no less, let us down?  Margaret O’Brien can’t help but being adorable but even she is nicely toned-down.  I had a warm feeling throughout.  If this kind of story appeals, I can recommend it.

Trailer – Spencer Tracy promoting the film

Bonus – Margaret O’Brien’s version of the Nativity story