Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage (1933)

Runtime: 96 minutes

Directed by: John Ford

Starring: Henrietta Crosman, Heather Angel, Norman Foster, Lucille La Verne, Maurice Murphy

From: Fox Film Corporation

As many of the films that the Criterion Channel have of John Ford will be leaving the service at the end of the month, this won’t be the last time in June I’ll be talking about something from the legendary director. Among all the choices, this was selected due to its relatively high rating.

What a plot it has: as World War I begins, the focus is on a small Arkansas farm, ran by a grumpy old woman and her son. Her cantankerous behavior does garner laughs… however, she is so possessive of her son, she might as well be known as Mrs. Bates and her son might as well be poor Norman. The level of vitriol she has for a woman named Mary that her son John is looking to marry: it’s to the point of hysteria. In fact, she signs up her son for the military so he’ll fight in Europe instead of shacking up with a woman she thinks is a harlot taking her son away for good… when the “worst” thing that can be attached to Mary is that her grandpappy loves the moonshine. Otherwise, from what is shown, she seems like a nice gal.

As expected, John doesn’t make it back home so mom is even more bitter; finally, 10 years later she is asked to go to France w/ other mothers that lost their sons in battle-that is the titular pilgrimage. Note that the death of John happens in the first act of the movie; if you’re wondering what material there is to fill up the other hour of Pilgrimage, I’ll explain. They attempt to soften mom’s image and that does happen, along that takes a LONG while before she finally learns that important life lesson. Some of the other matriarchs are seen, including an even Earthier woman who smokes from a pipe. A rather unexpected event happens in the third act which eats up some time and I dare not spoil.

Of course Pilgrimage is rather melodramatic & sentimental. At least there are some laughs to lighten the mood. Another of course is that Ford directs this unusual movie rather well. A big benefit is that this has some veterans of both the stage & screen who have long since been forgotten but definitely were talents. I am mainly referring to Henrietta Crosman as the grumpy old woman Hannah Jessop and Lucille La Verne (her voice at least is most famous as it was used for both the Queen and the witch in Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs) as the aforementioned even Earthier lady. That helped made this at time methodically paced tale always engrossing; the rewarding ending did make this journey worthwhile for me.