Friendly Persuasion (1956)

Set in 1862 Indiana during the Civil War, a Quaker family lives quietly in peace until the war comes to their door and decisions and conflict force them to re-examine their pacifist values. Based on the novel by Jessamyn West and directed by William Wyler (BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES). Winner of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes film festival and recipient of six Oscar nominations including best picture. West's plotless novel spans 40 years but the film focuses on just one year and several family members were eliminated from the narrative and new characters added. I'm not an expert on Quakers but apparently there are some inaccuracies in the movie on their beliefs and actions. But what remains is a lovely well intentioned little film. Gary Cooper as the family patriarch seems uneasy in his role (reputedly he found his character too passive) while Dorothy McGuire as the mother is perfection. A simple story simply told, one would be hard put to dislike it. With Anthony Perkins (in an Oscar nominated performance), Marjorie Main, Richard Eyer, Robert Middleton, Phyllis Love, Peter Mark Richman, John Smith, Robert Fuller and a scene stealing goose named Samantha.