CinemaSerf
3/26/2022
For the most part, this is just an excuse for Paul Newman and Henry Fonda to make a movie together. Much of it consists of extended shots of the logging industry at work, as he and his father work hard with their family business despite a strike that is affecting neighbouring outfits and causing local resentment. When younger son "Lee" (Michael Sarrazin) returns home after an indecent with an oven, some weed and the fire department the family, which also includes an underused Lee Remick, have to make some very tough decisions. Of course you just know that some form of sabotage will happen, and also that tragedy is going to follow - and that really robs this of any jeopardy as it floats along towards quite an entertaining conclusion (though that may have as much to do with Henry Mancini's toe-tapping score). As an observation of how grit and determination can sometimes win out, it has it's moments; but otherwise it is a colourful but rather disappointing story.
