About Me

My photo
Family and Friends is my everyday journal. Captain's Log is where I pontificate on religion and politics.

Wednesday, May 04, 2022

WC 050422

 


OOPS, I posted wrong and doing a makeover.



My best mother in a book or movie is Eliza Birdwell from Friendly Persuasion.

For and Indepth review of this movie, check out Berthold Gambrel's blog. 

The story is about a Quaker Family during the civil war. Eliza is a Quaker minister. This is misleading as the movie doesn't explain that all believers are considered ministers because of "Priesthood of the Believer."

Throughout the movie Eliza is the glue that keeps the family faithful to their beliefs. When they go to a fair she's finds her daughter dancing, the younger son at a shell game, the older son and husband are in an altercation. She sets them straight.

Jess, the father takes Josh the elder son on his sales trip and a nurseryman. When they get back a man shows up with an organ. Jess bought it at the fair.

Eliza is appalled, a musical instrument is not allowed in their faith. When she tells him if the musical instrument goes in, she goes out to the barn. Jess moves the organ in and Eliza and her pet goose Samantha head to the barn. Samantha is a major character of the film. She's a pure pet. Jess doesn't like her because she eats his strawberries and Little Jess is constantly fighting with her because Samanta sneaks up on him and bites him.

That evening Jess joins her in the barn, the next morning they've compromised that the organ goes to the attic and no playing on First Day (Sunday).

Rebel Raiders are reported heading their way. Josh sees the damage they've caused and decides to join the fight. This is huge. Quakers are pacifists, nonviolent. At first as he's leaving, she turns her back on him. This is an expression of shunning. Because he's leaving the faith, he's dead to her and all other Quakers. Eliza turns around and hugs him, she can't go through with it.

The horse that Josh left on comes back alone. Jess then rides out to find him.

Eliza and the children are alone when a band of raiders come riding in. She greets them, tells them where the food is and even offers them a cooked meal inside.

While she's serving inside and the raiders are rounding up the livestock one spots Samantha, and decides they'll have roast goose tonight.

Eliza hears the squawking of her pet and runs outside just as the man is about to ring Samantha's neck. She grabs a broom and clobbers him about the head, he turns around and she tells him, "Samantha's a pet, she's a pure pet."

The man shakes his head and says, "I wish I'd known that sooner ma'am." Samantha walks about shaking her displeasure.

The raiders leave and Eliza is stricken with guilt. She resorted to violence.

Jess returns with Josh who's been wounded but is also agonizing about the men he killed.

Eliza is mortified when Jess finds out about her whacking a Reb. As they're leaving for First Day, he puts him arms around both and says, "Come along, veterans."

14 comments:

Lydia said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
P M Prescott said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lydia said...

No worries, Patrick. I deleted my original comment and will leave a new one.

Yeah, I’ve heard good things about that film. I’ll have to watch it sometime!

Berthold Gambrel said...

Thanks for the link, and for introducing me to this movie. Eliza is an awesome character for sure.

Michael Mock said...

Oh, a great choice! I've seen parts of that film, and it was really good. I need to watch the whole thing.

I'm also really enjoying the fact that everybody came up with different answers for this one.

Aymee said...

Okay, you have me intrigued! I'm going to have to find this book now.

My post

Judy said...

I absolutely love that movie!! Gary Cooper and Dorothy MacGuire have such chemistry!

P M Prescott said...

Lydia, I'm sure you'll love it.

P M Prescott said...

De Nada, Berthold

P M Prescott said...

I agree Michael, lots of good answers.

P M Prescott said...

Aymee, the book is a great read, but the movie added the son fighting to add more conflict to the story.

P M Prescott said...

So glad you enjoy it too, Judy.

Tanith Davenport said...

I'm not familiar with this one, so I'll have to look it up.

P M Prescott said...

You'll enjoy it.