''Come Next Spring'' is a 1956 American Trucolor

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by R. G. Springsteen and starring Ann Sheridan,

Steve Cochran Steve Cochran (born Robert Alexander Cochran, May 25, 1917 – June 15, 1965) was an American film, television and stage actor. He attended the University of Wyoming. After a stint working as a cowboy, Cochran developed his acting skills in loca ...

and

Walter Brennan Walter Andrew Brennan (July 25, 1894 – September 21, 1974) was an American actor and singer. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''Come and Get It (1936 film), Come and Get It'' (1936), ''Kentucky (film), Kentucky'' (19 ...

. It was produced and distributed by

Republic Pictures Republic Pictures is currently an acquisition-only label owned by Paramount Pictures. Its history dates back to Republic Pictures Corporation, an American film studio that originally operated from 1935 to 1967, based in Los Angeles, California ...

. The theme song, "Come Next Spring", with music by Max Steiner and lyrics by Lenny Adelson, was performed by

Tony Bennett Anthony Dominick Benedetto (August 3, 1926 – July 21, 2023), known professionally as Tony Bennett, was an American jazz and traditional pop singer. He received many accolades, including 20 Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, ...

. It was covered by Scott Walker on his 1968 album '' Scott 2''. Steiner wrote the score for the film, reusing much of his work from ''

Sergeant York Alvin Cullum York (December 13, 1887 – September 2, 1964), also known by his rank as Sergeant York, was an American soldier who was one of the most decorated United States Army soldiers of World War I. He received the Medal of Honor fo ...

''.

Plot

Alcoholic Matt Ballot (Steve Cochran) abandoned his wife Bess (Ann Sheridan) and mute daughter Annie (Sherry Jackson) in Arkansas nine years ago. Now sober, he returns to discover Bess gave birth to a son, Abe (Richard Eyer), after he left. Bess grudgingly hires him as a handyman. Hytower (Sonny Tufts) wants to marry Bess and tries to make Matt jealous and picks a fight with him. Matt endears himself to his kids by defending them from wild pigs and a group of local bullies. He risks Annie's love by admitting that she was in the car when he drunkenly wrecked it. Although she was unhurt, she never spoke again. Annie embraces him. Matt later saves a child and Annie during an approaching tornado. Bess is upset when Matt has a single drink at a dance to prove he can stop at just one drink. Matt rescues her when, overcome by emotion, she accidentally drives her truck into a river. Annie falls into an old mine shaft, but Matt rescues her. Bess finally admits she is back in love with Matt.

Cast

* Ann Sheridan as Bess Ballot *

as Matt Ballot *

as Jeffrey Storys *

Sherry Jackson Sherry D. Jackson (born February 15, 1942) is an American retired Actor, actress and former child star. Early life Jackson was born on February 15, 1942, in Wendell, Idaho. Her mother, Maurita, provided drama, singing, and dancing lessons for S ...

as Annie Ballot * Richard Eyer as Abraham Ballot *

Edgar Buchanan William Edgar Buchanan II (March 20, 1903 – April 4, 1979) was an American actor with a long career in both film and television. He is most familiar today as Uncle Joe Carson from the '' Petticoat Junction'', '' Green Acres'', and '' The Bever ...

as Mr. Canary * Sonny Tufts as Leroy Hytower * Harry Shannon as Mr. Totter * James Westmoreland as Bob Storys (as Rad Fulton) *

Mae Clarke Mae Clarke (born Violet Mary Klotz; August 16, 1910 – April 29, 1992) was an American actress. She is widely remembered for playing Henry Frankenstein's bride Elizabeth, who is chased by Boris Karloff in ''Frankenstein'', and for being o ...

as Myrtle * Roscoe Ates as Shorty Wilkins * Wade Ruby as Delbert Meaner *

James Best Jewel Franklin Guy (July 26, 1926 – April 6, 2015), known professionally as James Best, was an American television, film, stage, and voice actor, as well as a writer, director, acting coach, artist, college professor, and musician. Duri ...

as Bill Jackson

Production

Steve Cochran formed Robert Alexander Productions after his actual first two names. ''Come Next Spring'' was his first film, written by Cochran's friend Montgomery Pittman and featuring Pittman's stepdaughter

. Filmed in locations around Sacramento, Republic promised Cochran an " A Picture" release but released it as the lower half of a double feature.

Critical reception

Writing in ''

The Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture publication based in Greenwich Village, New York City, known for being the country's first Alternative newspaper, alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf (publisher), Dan Wolf, ...

'', Farran Smith Nehme noted that "Both heridan and Cochrangive lovely performances; their first reunion, delivered with clean sincerity, is a marvel of things left unsaid," adding that "the movie is sentimental in a way that shouldn’t be taken as a pejorative." A review of the film by Gina Telaroli for

Mubi Mubi (; stylized as MUBI; the Auteurs before 2010) is a global streaming platform, production company and film distributor. MUBI produces and theatrically distributes films by emerging and established filmmakers, which are exclusively available ...

described it as "quite a frank film that deals with some pretty rough stuff, like how devastatingly hard it can be to trust someone who has betrayed you," and having "a great Walter Brennan performance" with a "terrifying cliff-bound scene at the end."

References

External links

* * * {{Authority control 1956 films 1956 drama films American drama films Republic Pictures films Films directed by R. G. Springsteen Trucolor films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films