Knowing nothing about this firm, apart from the very handy cast, I was surprised and pleased how good it was. The story is simple and not especially original - a family in the logging business defy a strike by the unionised labour in their district and keep working - but it is told with considerable intelligence and gusto.The entire cast are excellent; they are working with a strong script (an adaptation from a book, which I have not read); and Paul Newman proves himself a skillful director, in this first- up effort. The film's greatest impact point, however, is its setting, in Oregon, and the extensive and exciting sequences of tree felling, trimming, hauling and rafting. These are not fillers; they lie the heart of the film and drive the narrative. Two scenes stand out, in particular: when Hank (Newman's character) is trying to keep his brother (who is trapped under a log in the river) from drowning, by mouth to mouth resuscitation underwater; and Henry Fonda, the mortally injured family patriarch Henry Stamper, in hospital, defying death right to his last gasp.The central conflict is between the independent, accountable-to-no-one Stamper family and the lumbermen's union, but the more telling commentary on the Stamper philosophy is provided by Lee Remick's character, Hank's wife. On the back of a typically sensitive and wry Remick performance, she is the real counterpoint to the macho, 'life is work, shagging and drinking' world view the family personify. It's not that she wishes to tear it down or even repudiate it; she simply finds it is not enough.The camera-work and editing are first class. The DVD looks and sounds great. There is enormous energy in the production, which builds to a powerful and convincing conclusion.

This film was directed by Paul Newman and he's also one of the stars of "Sometimes a Great Notion". It sure helped him that he had such good support from the likes of Henry Fonda, Michael Sarrazin, Richard Jaeckel and Lee Remick.The film is about a very bull-headed family whose logging business is on the edge of bankruptcy. The family patriarch (Fonda) refuses to budge with the unions and it's hard to fulfill his contracts with so few workers. So, it's up to his family to bust their butts to get the job done. All during which the entire town has grown to hate them--they're out of work and resent the family. Eventually, tragedy strikes and in the end the family is destroyed---and yet, the sons seem unwilling to admit defeat.All in all, this is a very depressing film. Yes, the acting is nice, but the film is a big downer--and I am pretty sure the average viewer will be rather depressed by the film. Not a feel-good film, that's for sure. Also, the family isn't particularly likable. As a result, the final product, as one other reviewer put it, is rather lackluster. Not a bad film but not an especially memorable one either.By the way, this film is NOT for the squeamish. The film features one of the more harrowing scenes I've ever seen in a movie and if you see this one, you'll know what I mean.

I also vividly remember this movie, and would love to see it again. The scene with Richard Jaekel and the logging accident is unbelievable. There are many other memorable scenes. I wonder why it is not on DVD? I searched Netflix, and it isn't there. I guess I will just have to wait for it to come around on cable! Or do they only show movies that have made it to DVD on cable? With so many great actors, an excellent story (Ken Kesey) and memorable performances, there's no reason for this to languish in obscurity. I would like to hear some other opinions. It's the kind of movie (at least for me) that you remember forever, so I'm hoping some others remember it as well and can give their opinions.

I consider Ken Kesey's novel to be one of the 10 best works of contemporary American fiction. There are fatal flaws in this attempt to bring it to the screen and there are triumphs in nuance because the screen writer was writing just a few years after Kesey wrote about the pressures and social dynamic that separated people born just a few years apart like Hank and Leland. Kesey devoted several pages to the difference between Leland and Hank. The screenwriter has the luxury of having Leland being asked, "What's with the hair?"His response. " It grows." Sums up what Kesey knew was happening and what everyone knew had happened by the time the movie was made.I give this movie an 8 because in every scene it is obvious that the actors read and loved the novel as much as I did.