The Green Promise is a 1948 American film directed by William D. Russell. It is currently in the public domain. The film highlights farming issues such as soil erosion, government programs, and individual enterprise. The title ers to a scene where the local preacher gives a sermon on a story from the Book of Exodus in which the God's promise to lead Moses into a land of milk and honey. The preacher reminds his congregation that the fulfillment of the promise requires faith, difficult journeys and open-mindedness.

Plot Summary

It tells the story of a farmer, Matthews, his son and three daughters. Leaving behind a failing farm, the family travel to pastures new. Help is proffered by agricultural county agent, David Barkley who is immediately attracted to Matthews's eldest daughter, Deborah. Needing Deborah to run his house, and fearing David may take her away, Matthews' uses David's advice and help. He is pig-headed and sleeps through the pastor's sermon on education, understanding and tolerance. It is Susan's (Matthews's youngest daughter) yearning ambition to raise lambs. Though only ten years old, she joins the 4-H club, secures a loan from the bank and buys two lambs. She cares for them like she is a mother. Barkley strongly advises Matthews against chopping down the forest atop a hill on his land. Matthews goes ahead and sells the land to a logging company. The forest gone, a great storm comes and washes the mud down the incline towards the homestead. Fearful for her beloved lambs, Susan braves the dangerous conditions to rescue the lambs. David returns and rescues both Susan and the lambs. Deborah is atop the hill trying to move rocks in order to build a dam to save their home from the torrent of water. David arrives and pulls her back just as the land falls away. Realizing how close to harm his daughters have come because of his ignorance and selfishness, Matthews apologizes to his family and welcomes David into their home. The community of 4-H members arrive to help them clean up the land following the storm damage.

Cast

• Marguerite Chapman as Deborah Matthews
• Walter Brennan as Mr. Matthews
• Robert Paige as David Barkley
• Natalie Wood as Susan Anastasia Matthews
• Ted Donaldson as Phineas Matthews
• Connie Marshall as Abigail Matthews
• Robert Ellis (actor born 1933) as Peter "Buzz" Wexford
• Jeanne LaDuke as Jessie Wexford
• Irving Bacon as Julius Larkins
• Milburn Stone as Rev. Jim Benton
• Geraldine Wall as Mrs. Wexford

Production

The Green Promise is erred to in the mini-series biopic, The Mystery of Natalie Wood(2003). During the storm scene, Natalie Wood was supposed to run across a bridge which would collapse after she reached the opposite side into the torrent of water beneath. However, the stunt went wrong and the bridge collapsed while Natalie was still on it. She fell into the water, banging her left wrist bone as she fell. Though she managed to pull herself back up, the young actress was shaken and her wrist was broken. The bone was not set correctly and healed so that it protruded from the wrist. She would thereafter disguise the protruding bone with a bracelet.



Category:1949 films
Category:American drama films
Category:1940s drama films
Category:English-language films
Category:Black-and-white films