LADDIE (1940) Tim Holt, Virginia Gilmore & Joan Carroll | Drama | B&W

RKO Radio Pictures's Laddie is a 1940 American drama film starring Tim Holt, Virginia Gilmore and Joan Carroll and directed by Jack Hively. It is the third film adaptation based on Gene Stratton-Porter's novel, Laddie, A True Blue Story (1913), and previously had been filmed in 1926 and by RKO in 1935.

SYNOPSIS
Handsome and hardworking Laddie Stanton, a dedicated farmer's son, falls deeply in love with Pamela Pryor, the charming daughter of their newly arrived English neighbors. Pamela's father, Mr. Pryor, is a stern and morose man, embittered by the dishonorable discharge of his son Robert from the military. Mr. Pryor views Laddie, whom he dismissively calls a "field hand," as wholly unworthy of his daughter and forbids their marriage.

Pamela, caught between her love for Laddie and her desire to please her father, tries to persuade Laddie to seek another profession to gain her father's approval. Feeling insulted and disrespected by this request, Laddie is deeply hurt. Determined to prove his worth, Laddie decides to buy a portion of Mr. Pryor's estate and demonstrate his capabilities as a farmer. This move, however, only infuriates Mr. Pryor further, leading him to reject the sale and worsening the tension between him and Laddie. Pamela, too, sees Laddie's actions as childish and unproductive.

Amidst this turmoil, Laddie's little sister, affectionately known as 'Little Sister,' believes that Pamela is destined to be with Laddie. She takes it upon herself to mend the rift between the lovers. Her initial attempts fail, but she finds an opportunity when Robert Pryor, Mr. Pryor's disowned son, returns home and falls ill.

Pamela, desperate for help, turns to the Stanton family, who take Robert in and summon Dr. Barnes. While wandering in the woods, Little Sister encounters Mr. Pryor and accidentally reveals Robert's presence at their home. Enraged, Mr. Pryor storms to the Stanton household with the intent to confront his son. Laddie bravely stands up to him, insisting he leave his gun behind before entering. The Stanton family then calms Mr. Pryor by recounting the story of the prodigal son and informing him of Robert's severe illness.

Touched by their wisdom and compassion, Mr. Pryor forgives Robert and, in a gesture of reconciliation, grants Pamela's hand in marriage to Laddie. In the end, a teary-eyed Pamela apologizes to Laddie for belittling his family and their farming profession. The lovers are finally reconciled, ready to start a new chapter together.

CAST & CREW
Tim Holt as Laddie Stanton
Virginia Gilmore as Pamela Pryor
Joan Carroll as Sister Stanton
Spring Byington as Mrs. Stanton
Robert Barrat as Mr. John Stanton
Miles Mander as Mr. Pryor
Esther Dale as Sarah, the Housekeeper
Sammy McKim as Leon Stanton
Joan Leslie as Shelley Stanton
Martha O'Driscoll as Sally Stanton
Rand Brooks as Peter Dover
Mary Forbes as Mrs. Anna Pryor
Peter Cushing as Robert Pryor
Harry Humphrey as Minister
Dorothy Lee as Louise
Joe Bernard as Tom Crispin
Paul Maxey as Mr. Wilson
George Irving as Dr.Barnes

Directed by: Jack Hively
Screenplay by: Jerome Cady, Bert Granet
Based on: Laddie, A True Blue Story by Gene Stratton-Porter
Produced by: Cliff Reid, Lee Marcus (executive)
Starring: Tim Holt, Virginia Gilmore, Joan Carroll
Cinematography: Harry J. Wild
Edited by: George Hively
Music by: Roy Webb
Distributed by: RKO Radio Pictures
Release date: October 18, 1940
Running time: 70 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English

NOTES
The novel Laddie, A True Blue Story by Gene Stratton-Porter, on which the film is based, was published in 1913. Stratton-Porter's inspiration for the novel came from a personal tragedy: her teenage brother Leander drowned in the Wabash River on July 6, 1872. The title character of Laddie is modeled after her deceased brother, whom she nicknamed Laddie. Much like Stratton-Porter's own family, Laddie is deeply connected to the land and shares a vocation for farming, a tribute to their father's profession. Stratton-Porter considered the novel quite autobiographical, with the character of Little Sister, played by Joan Carroll in the film, representing her childhood self, sharing similar personality traits, interests, and family dynamics.

Virginia Gilmore, who plays Pamela Pryor, was borrowed from Samuel Goldwyn Productions for this film. Filming began on June 1, 1940. Upon its release, Fields of Honor received consistent ratings of above average in various newspapers, film magazines, and review journals. However, it was commonly viewed as unremarkable and considered "best for the hinterlands."