What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Once a Confederate soldier, Penny Baxter (Gregory Peck) settled on a farm in Florida with his wife Ora (Jane Wyman) in 1878. Their 11 year old son Jody lives an idyllic life except for his hard pessimistic mother. Ora is still haunted by the death of her three other children. Jody wants a pet but Ora refuses. When a rattlesnake bites Penny, they kill a doe and use its organs to draw out the poison. Jody adopts the doe's orphaned fawn with Penny's insistence. Jody's sickly friend Fodderwing dies and he names it Flag for him. Flag grows quickly destroying the crops. Penny tells Jody to take Flag out and shoot it.This is old fashion sentimentality. It's about pioneering heroics and a coming-of-age story. Peck is the solidly superior man. Wyman is the troubled wife. All the "Pa"s from Jody do get a little tiresome. It's every other word from that kid. The Technicolor in the Florida woods looks beautiful. There are some amazing wildlife scenes. They can't make dogs fight a bear anymore. Some have called it a tear jerker. It's a little too broadly sentimental for that. I kept thinking that the deer should probably be tie down at night. This is a movie of a certain time.

This is an early Technicolor film that dazzled audiences with its scenes of nature in all its splendid colors in 1946. It is also one of the many successful efforts in Hollywood's first half century that turned very good or noted books into very good or great movies. The novel source of this film by the same name was penned by Marjorie Rawlings in 1938. The setting is the flat wilds of north-central Florida around the turn of the 20th century. Rawlings' Cross Creek homestead today is a state park north of Ocala. "The Yearling" is an enjoyable, moving tale about a young boy growing up in a pioneer family. At times humorous, at times serious, the story never gives a sense of despair but is always filled with hope. It has great depth of characters in the central cast. Theirs is a heartfelt closeness that is hidden just below the surface for the propriety of the times. But the audience is always aware of this close bond between Ma, Pa and son. Few who have commented so far mention the strong work ethic within the family. That was a necessity in pioneer families of the time, and this film captures that important aspect of early American times before the advent of automation. Indeed, it is a part of the formation of character we see in young Jody as the movie story unfolds. I don't think there are many films that show this, so "The Yearling" has some historical value in that regard. Others have commented on the beautiful story and the cast, especially the new child star, Claude Jarman, Jr. Jarman became a child-star over night with his role, which he "won" in a nationwide talent search by MGM. All aspects of this film are excellent, and it received seven nominations for Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It won two Oscars for production, and Jarman received a special junior Oscar for his role. Both Gregory Peck and Jane Wyman were nominated for lead role Oscars. But 1946 was like many other years in the early and mid-20th century. Actors, directors and technicians competed for awards with outstanding work in many films that went head-to-head at the Oscars. That year's films included "The Best Years of Our Lives," "It's a Wonderful Life," "Henry V," "The Jolson Story," "To Each His Own," and "Duel in the Sun." What prompted me most to write this review, with so many other comments, was the performance by Gregory Peck. Another reviewer, bkoganbing from Buffalo (2 March 2008), said that he wasn't sure that Peck and Wyman gave better performances than in "The Yearling," where both later won Oscars for roles in other films. I agree. Peck surely deserved his Oscar for "To Kill a Mockingbird" in 1962. But I think his Penny Baxter in "Yearling" was much broader, deeper and touching than was his very good Atticus Finch in "Mockingbird." Most actors over time develop a very identifiable film persona. There is nothing wrong with that – it's a reality of the trade and of time, experience and habits. The audiences become familiar with stars on that basis. No doubt, producers and directors cast parts based on such characteristics. By the time Gregory Peck had a few more years under his belt in front of the cameras, he had developed a persona that audiences knew him for. In nearly every role he played after his first few years, his characters were serious, studied and thoughtful. That surely describes Atticus Finch in "Mockingbird." But in "The Yearling," we see a Peck who smiles often, who shows a sparkle in his eye and speech – even when matters are most serious He has a subdued humor that surfaces just at the right times. He has an energy and vitality of movement that springs of youth. It isn't in later roles in which he played characters of the same age. He had not yet developed a mold of a persona, and his performance had greater breadth and range. It was the freshness of his acting and his relative newness to Hollywood. This film is the best of a fine actor who had several nominations in his life for excellent roles in some great movies.

There's a lot to like about this film, as well as some things that I didn't like. I had long avoided watching this film, probably because of seeing it in black and white on t.v. when I was young. Seeing it in color...what a difference! The photography is stunning, and in my view, remarkable, particularly in scenes such as the bear chase. My mother lived in Florida most of her life, in this general area, and although I only visited, I always thought central Florida with its swamps and lakes was always quite beautiful, particularly in the mornings. And, the acting here is fine, both on the part of Gregory Peck and the child.One of my complaints about this movie is how such a loving father would be married to such an old grump of a mother. I guess it's possible, but it just seems somewhat unlikely. And, personally, I just didn't care for child actor Claude Jarman.Maybe I'm just a softie -- even though I'm a retired school principal -- but in different ways I found both of these parents to be cruel-hearted. So, thumbs down to the story and the film...at least that's my view.

Following the Civil War, a family struggles to make ends meet in the Florida wilds. This film has a lot going for it, including beautiful Technicolor cinematography, an engaging story, and fine acting by Peck as the father. In his film debut, Jarman is quite effective as the son who adopts a fawn, leading to emotional turmoil. On the down side, the dialog is corny and the Southern accents are so thick that subtitles are needed. It is surprising that this is regarded as a great family film because it contains disturbing scenes of animal violence and puts too much emphasis on killing and deaths, making it unsuitable for pre-teens.