Sein Name war Parrish

While this film is hardly at risk of being called the greatest movie ever made, it's also not bad...a decent film.

If I have one complaint about the film it's the role played by one of my favorite character actors -- Karl Malden. Playing the "bad" father shouldn't have meant that it had to be over the top, and Malden really goes over the top here. It's a shame; he was normally a very fine actor. I'm guessing the blame lies with the director and/or screenwriters who apparently didn't understand that most people -- unless they're bipolar -- have a rather even demeanor most of the time.

Probably the best acting in the film is by veteran character actor Dean Jagger. His presence is a blessing in any movie, and certainly in this film.

The lead -- Troy Donahue -- whose talent was about as shallow as a summer stream -- actually does fairly well here. Other than a handsome face and blonde hair, there certainly wasn't much to the skinny, almost puny (though tall) actor. While not a memorable performance by any stretch of the imagination (were any of his roles?), he plays the part satisfactorily.

This was Claudette Colbert's final big screen appearance, and she is always a welcome presence in virtually any film. What a shame she walked away from movies. What a wonderful, wonderful actress.

The plot here is quite good, and production values were high, and much of it filmed on location. It's a longer-than-average movie, but it still ended rather abruptly (and predictably). Recommended, with reservations.

They do not do movies like "Parrish" anymore nowadays ;and even if they made a remake ,they could not locate the action on tobacco fields anymore:tobacco has become uncool ."Parrish" ,like "a summer place" "Peyton Place" or "imitation of life " (the latter being the best of the genre ,surpassing the first version in several respects) is this kind of giant melodrama for which 135 min are not enough;there are so many characters it would take a miniseries to make them all really live ;anyway this kind of story lives on in miniseries such as "Dallas" ,"Dynasty" and others .When the movie ends ,it could actually go on and on and on for two more hours .

"Parrish" is certainly enjoyable if you like this kind of long tale .They say Troy Donahue was a limited actor but he carries the weight of a two hours and a quarter movie on his shoulders for his time on screen is twice as long as veterans Claudette Colbert (last role) and Karl Malden who overacts all the way and his three (count'em) loves appear only now and then ,the first one (Connie Stevens) almost absent in the last hour.And he manages quite well:James Dean ,he was not ,but he was more than a pretty face (more expressive than in "a summer place" )and he turns his scenes opposite Malden and son to his advantage .

It's love at first sight all the way :there's a kiss in Donahue's first scenes with the first two girls ;and Colbert and Malden fall for each other just after they met for the first time.The part of the mother (and stepmother) is underwritten and does not do Colbert justice .Sometimes it seems that Parrish is in fact in love with her,she's the only one he really fights for (during the scene of the ball,he forces Malden's evil son to make an announcement to welcome his stepmother;he tells him that when she offers to shake hands with him ,he MUST do it)

The cinematography is splendid ,with a great use of wide screen ,particularly during the scene of the fire in the night.So you forget how stereotyped the characters are : the ruthless tycoon,his lazy offspring,the field hand pregnant by her secret date,the wise man who gives the young rebel pieces of advice and who considers him his son after Alison's money match.

It's amazing that Delmer Daves ,who excelled at western and gave classics such as "broken arrow" and "3:10 To Yuma " gave up after "the hanging tree" (1959).From "A summer place" (in which Donahue starred too) to "the battle of the Villa Florita" ,melodrama rules.

That said "Parrish " has stood the test of time quite well and remains eminently watchable today.You simply haven't got the time to get bored!

Connie Stevens in her hayday with her old nose and delightful presence.A charmer as Lucy the bad girl with the heart of gold. Diane Mc Bain stunningly beautiful and a gifted actress at her best. Claudette Colbert utterly elegant,charming and a great performance as the single Mother. Dean Jagger strong but sensitive in his portrayal. Karl Malden the epitome of an actor doing his craft. Troy Donahue was so-so.Not a good actor but looking good at this point in time.Warren Beatty would have been perfect in this role as Parrish. Max Steiner the musical genius of this film.The music was captivating and gave the story that extra specialness.The film score was four stars here.

Director Delmer Daves also adapted Mildred Savage's sprawling novel about four adjoining tobacco farms in New England, and the love, lust and sabotage which occurs there. Troy Donahue is the stilted, inert title-named lothario who arrives in town with his mother, a dignified Claudette Colbert (in her theatrical bow); Connie Stevens, Diane McBain, and Sharon Hugueny are Donahue's love interests; Karl Malden is the tyrannical stepfather and boss from hell. Beautifully filmed by Harry Stradling, but the heated melodrama is engineered to be overwrought (Daves probably wouldn't have it any other way!). It's actually more involving than it has any right to be, though the narrative (spanning several years) is ridiculously rushed along in the third act, and the romantic clinches are so florid they generate some unintended laughs. **1/2 from ****

While the novel by Mildred Savage contains plot lines the film simply could not cover due to time constraints,the beautifully photographed "Parrish" is very enjoyable if you have read and loved the book.Some of the deletions from the novel tightened the storyline though at least one section (where Judd swindles Parrish on a boat deal) should have been added to the film to provide better character motivation and audience understanding.However,at 138 minutes (most prints) already this was not practical.To appreciate the novel and film, the time and place the story takes place (late 1950's rural America) must be taken into consideration.This was a much more innocent time.The actors/actresses used by Producer/Director Delmer Daves are a near perfect fit to reflect the authors intention;a mixture of attractive,unsure,inquisitive,opinionated and passionate teens/early 20's making their place in an adult world.Troy Donahue,not an actor of great expressiveness and polish,had the part of a lifetime as his limitations were the same as the title character.He became Parrish. Karl Malden as Judd Raike was brilliant. I wish there had been a sequel!