''Tess of the Storm Country'' is a 1960 American

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

Paul Guilfoyle Paul Vincent Guilfoyle () (born April 28, 1949) is an American character actor. He was a regular cast member of the CBS crime drama '' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'', on which he played Captain Jim Brass from 2000 to 2014. He returned for ...

, written by Charles Lang and starring

Diane Baker Diane Carol Baker (born February 25, 1938) is an American actress, producer and educator whose career spanned over 50 years. Early life Baker was born February 25, 1938 at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Californi ...

Jack Ging Jack Lee Ging (November 30, 1931 – September 9, 2022) was an American actor. He was best known as General Harlan "Bull" Fulbright on NBC's television adventure series ''The A-Team'', and for his supporting role in the final season of ''Tales ...

Lee Philips Lee Philips (born Leon Friedman; January 10, 1927 – March 3, 1999) was an American actor, film director, and television director. Life and career Philips was born in New York. His acting career started on Broadway, and peaked with a starring ...

, Archie Duncan,

Nancy Valentine Nancy Valentine (born Annette Valentine; January 21, 1928 – July 31, 2017) was an American model and actress, better known for her marriage to an Indian Maharaja than for her modeling or early film roles. She later had more success in American ...

and

Bert Remsen Herbert Birchell "Bert" Remsen (February 25, 1925 – April 22, 1999) was an American actor and casting director. He appeared in numerous films and television series. Biography Remsen was born in Glen Cove, New York, on Long Island, the son of ...

. It is based on the novel with the same title by

Grace Miller White Grace Miller White (1868–1957) was an American writer. She began her writing career novelizing play (theatre), plays,

and its adaptation for the stage by

Rupert Hughes Rupert Raleigh Hughes (January 31, 1872 – September 9, 1956) was an American novelist, film director, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, military officer, and music composer. He was the brother of Howard R. Hughes Sr. and uncle of billionaire How ...

. The film was released on December 8, 1960 by

20th Century-Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film production and distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the Disney Entertainment business segment of the Walt Disney Com ...

Plot

The movie starts in a rural town in Pennsylvania, where a feud simmers between farmer Fred Thorson and the Graveses. The latter are a

Mennonite Mennonites are a group of Anabaptism, Anabaptist Christianity, Christian communities tracing their roots to the epoch of the Radical Reformation. The name ''Mennonites'' is derived from the cleric Menno Simons (1496–1561) of Friesland, part of ...

family who sold their mill to the Foley chemical company that is now contaminating the river with toxic wastes. Tess MacLean, accompanied by her uncle Capt. Hamish MacLean, arrives from Scotland to marry John Faulkner. Tess arrives in

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

and is told that her fiancé is dead. Peter Graves, a resident of the town, tells Tess that his family did not kill Faulkner; however, Eric Thorson, a member of the rival family and a close friend of John, tells her that Peter's dad killed John. Tess also learns that John has left his farm to her. However, due to the poisoned water the farm starts dying. When one of the newborn calves dies from poisoning on Tess's farm, she lashes out at Peter, telling him to close down the mill. Realizing that they can drive the mill out of business with a dam, Eric's father Fred petitions the Graveses to build a dam, but they refuse because only the government can petition a

dam A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aqua ...

. The Graveses invite the MacLeans to dinner, where Tess comments on the strange Mennonite customs. However, dinner comes to an end when Fred arrives and says his prize Angus steer has fallen ill and vows vengeance if the animal dies. Eric goes to ask Foley to shut down the mill and when refused gets drunk. While drunk, he kisses Tess, who retaliates because he is being too forward. A day after this, Tess rides her bike to the river that crosses the Graveses’ land. When a bull attacks her, Peter saves her. Tess kisses him and admits she respects him. After Fred's bull dies, he and Captain McLean plot to blow up the plant. Tess arrives at the plant just after Fred plants the bomb, and it explodes. The guards thinks that Tess blew up the plant, but Peter accepts responsibility. After Peter is arrested, Tess visits him in prison and kisses him. Then Eric, Captain MacLean, and Foley arrive. Foley lies and says the exploded due to a faulty steam boiler, freeing Peter. Peter asks MacLean for Tess's hand in marriage. He consents but refuses to attend the wedding when he learns it will be held in a Mennonite church and Tess will like a life of a Mennonite wife. As Tess and Peter repeat their vows, MacLean and Fred peer through the church window. When the newlyweds go outside, MacLean gives his blessing.

Cast

as Tess MacLean *

as Peter Graves *

as Eric Thorson * Archie Duncan as Hamish MacLean *

as Teola Graves *

as Mike Foley *

Wallace Ford Wallace Ford (born Samuel Grundy Jones; 12 February 1898 – 11 June 1966) was an English–American vaudevillian, stage performer and screen actor. Usually playing wise-cracking characters, he combined a tough but friendly-faced demeanor with ...

as Fred Thorson *

Grandon Rhodes Grandon Rhodes (born Grandon Neviers Augustine Rolker; August 7, 1904 – June 9, 1987) was an American actor. Early years Rhodes was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. Career Early in his career, Rhodes acted in repertory theatre with troupe ...

as Mr. Foley *

Robert F. Simon Robert Frank Simon (December 2, 1908 – November 29, 1992) was an American character actor. Earlier years Simon began acting with Mansfield's Community Players organization when he worked as a clerk in a meat market. Following that experience ...

as Mr. Graves

Production

The film was produced by

Robert L. Lippert Robert Lenard Lippert (March 31, 1909 – November 16, 1976) was an American film producer and cinema chain owner. He was president and chief operating officer of Lippert Theatres, Affiliated Theatres and Transcontinental Theatres, all based in ...

's outfit Associated Producers Inc. In August 1960,

Millie Perkins Millie Perkins (born May 12, 1936) is an American retired model and film and television actress known for her debut film role as Anne Frank in ''The Diary of Anne Frank (1959 film), The Diary of Anne Frank'' (1959), and for her supporting actre ...

was suspended by 20th Century-Fox for refusing to play the lead, and

took the role.

References

External links

* *{{TCMDb title, 92616
''Tess of the Storm Country''
at BFI 1960 films Films based on American novels Films based on works by Grace Miller White Films based on works by Rupert Hughes 20th Century Fox films American drama films CinemaScope films 1960 drama films Films with screenplays by Rupert Hughes Films scored by Paul Sawtell Films scored by Bert Shefter 1960s English-language films Films directed by Paul Guilfoyle 1960s American films English-language drama films