Stars in My Crown Full Movie

Art S 22 Dec 2015

At first, I thought this was just another John Ford-esque tale of small town American life in the inner West, but gradually its folksy charms and dark realities won me over. Joel McCrea is the Parson who comes to Walsburg after the Civil War to build community; he takes a wife (Ellen Drew) and together they raise a young orphan (Dean Stockwell) who narrates the tale. We are treated to numerous anecdotes from the town's life but the major plot threads involve 1) the gruff young doctor who conflicts with the Parson over how to treat the typhoid epidemic that attacks the town; and 2) the old sharecropper whose property stands in the way of the town's mining interests and who is confronted one dark night by the KKK. Mostly though, this is a gentle, affectionate picture with human characters who may or may not believe in God but do believe in having a strong sense of community. Whether or not the world was ever like this, it does seem a shame when it's gone.

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Richard M 09 Dec 2018

I saw this movie when I was eight years old. It's dramatic affirmation of social justice, solidarity and creativity in turning around a mob has been a precious part of my life ever since. Though I forgot most of it, the scene of reading the "will" which led to the lynch leader throwing down the rope has been etched in my memory. I was active in my local church and believe this was the first time it became clear to me that faith meant standing up for justice in a calm, courageous and heartelt was that could call forth the bes in a very violent and greedy man. This film was an address on its time, and even more so an inspriation for ours.

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Scott R 08 Oct 2017

A bit of racial undertones set up this feel good family flick. It was a bit contrived, but has its moments.

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Greg W 26 Sep 2013

A fine example of an old-fashioned heartwarming family film.

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Janet F 06 Mar 2010

Narrated by a man, in the form of a flashback to the man's boyhood, Stars in My Crown tells the story of a country, small town, TN preacher in the post Civil War era. Like most of the men in town, the preacher, "Parson Gray" is a Civil War veteran and a man of action. The Parson's extends far outside the walls of the church, as indicated in the movie when he holds his first sermon after arriving in town in the local saloon, having captured the attention of the crowd by having them at gunpoint. The Parson's challenges included the town bully, the Klan, conflict with the town doctor when they generally appeared at the same crises with different motives and, finally, typhoid fever. Stars in My Crown is an extremely enjoyable, nostalgic movie telling its story with warmth and humor.

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