The Pride of Jesse Hallam

Illliterate and looking for work in Cincinnatti, Johnny Cash's struggles are many. His Daughter is in the hospital for a back operation, his Son is having problems adjusting to school, and Cash cannot read, so finding a job is a tremendous challenge. Eventually, Eli Wallach gives Cash a chance to work, and also encourages him to seek help for his illiteracy. The performance by Cash is both heartfelt and heartbreaking. This certainly is not a big movie. This certainly is not an often explored subject, but for those looking for strong character development, along with some good acting, "The Pride of Jesse Hallam" will reward. - MERK

I am a musician & I've always loved Johnny.. so this was a given.. I just now saw it on country music channel...& just happened to be reading (Johnny Cash the man in Black) his biography... gave me chills! I would Highly recommended...for any fan of JC & anyone who likes a good solid movie!... My mom loved it too... I am a BIG horror fan, but music movies are always cool! True to form, Johnny plays a REAL person. He's been through it all, drugs, divorce, the hard life on the road, & it shows in his performance here. He is a natural actor (as are most musicians, not all though), He really made it nice, I'm going to buy this if I can find the DVD!

There are 25 million functional illiterates in the United States, and this film made for television is purportedly based upon events in the life of one of them, Jesse Hallam, portrayed here in typically wooden fashion by Johnny Cash, primarily about Hallam's troubles after moving to a large city (Cincinnati). Hallam, a miner since 14 from the Coal Fields sector of Western Kentucky in Muhlenberg County, has no choice but to leave his country home when his young daughter requires spinal surgery in the Ohio metropolis, paid with cash in advance obtained from the sale of his property after his wife's death. He pits his native intelligence and work ethic against the problem of not being able to read or write, and discovers that in order to support himself and his two children, he must become literate; scenes involving the methods used in developing his new skills are the most engrossing of the production. Brenda Vaccaro plays Marion Galucci, vice-principal of the high school which Jesse's son Tom attends, doing her best with an underwritten role as Hallam's mentor, and one must appreciate the spirited performance of veteran Eli Wallach as her father Sal, employer and sponsor of the erstwhile coal miner. Adequately helmed by television director Gary Nelson, the work's stature rises from fine camera-work by Gayne Rescher, while Cash sings several appropriate songs on the sound track, which features some excellent instrumental performances, including deft banjo work by Oscar Scruggs.

I was much moved by The Pride Of Jesse Hallam and with the performance of Johnny Cash as the prtagonist. Having known at least one illiterate person in m life I know what a trap that is to the mind.

Cash who didn't need reading skill to work in the coal mines of Kentucky's Mecklenburg County is a fish out of water when he moves to Cincinnati because his crippled daughter Chrystal Smith needs an operation on her spine. Just about every cent he's earned goes to pay for surgery and he has to find work.

An assistant principal at his son Ben Marley's new school played by Brenda Vaccaro hekps considerably even with getting him a job at her father's produce warehouse. Eli Wallach as the immigrant owner from Italy and Cash the man from the Kentucky hills form quite a friendship. Cash and Wallach have some great scenes together.

Whether you are a Puerto Rican kid raised in a group home whom I knew or a miner from rural Kentucky illiteracy is a terrible affliction. Roy Gomez whom I knew loved comic books and a very sharp woman who worked at an attorney's office was the first one who observed he loved those comics because the pictures told the story for him. I only wish he had lived long enough to remedy the situation as Johnny Cash does in The Pride Of Jesse Hallam.

The last scene is an unforgettable one. This is one really good film and a soundtrack with some Johnny Cash songs don't hurt either.

This movie is on Amazon Prime for those who want to watch it. I only gave it an 8 because of the dated production and poor sound. As far as the storyline, you won't find many in its class. Inspirational and wholesome family movie.