Trouble Along the Way

Director: Michael Curtiz Michael Curtiz

Overview

John Wayne stars as a divorced ex-football coach who decides to coach a pathetic team of boys from a small Catholic school in an attempt to retain legal custody of his precious daughter. In the process, he uses some unconventional methods to win the games and creates a bit of a mess until the attractive case worker and the rector step in to help.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/10/2020
UPC:	0883929713141
Original Release:	1953
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[B&W]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono, Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:50:00
Sales rank:	20,033

Special Features

Vintage Joe McDoakes Comedy Short So You Think You Can't Sleep ; Classic Cartoon Muscle Tussle; Theatrical Trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

John Wayne	Steve Aloysius Williams
Donna Reed	Alice Singleton
Charles Coburn	Father Burke
Marie Windsor	Anne Williams McCormick
Tom Tully	Father Malone
Tom Helmore	Harold McCormick
Dabbs Greer	Father Mahoney
Leif Erickson	Father Provincial
Douglas Spencer	Procurator
Lester Matthews	Cardinal O'Shea
Chuck Connors	Stan Schwegler
Bill Radovich	Moose McCall
Richard Garrick	Judge
Murray Alper	Bus Driver
James Flavin	Buck Holman
Ned Glass	Pool Player
Phil Chambers	Bishop
Frank Ferguson	Mike Edwards
Howard Petrie	Polo Grounds Manager
Renata Vanni	Italian Mother
Tim Graham	Bill, Team Manager
Robert Keys	Joe, Team Manager
Sherry Jackson	Carole Williams
James Dean	Actor
Max Steiner	Composer

Technical Credits

Melville Shavelson

Jack Rose

Michael Curtiz	Director
Melville Shavelson	Screenwriter,Producer
Jack Rose	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

"Heart warming" is not an adjective usually applied to John Wayne films, but it fits Trouble Along the Way. For that matter, so does "manipulative" and "predictable," and maybe even "mawkish," but Trouble manages to be a good film in spite of this. A big part of the credit goes to the screenplay, the writers of which seem to have been aware of how treacly and annoying this basic story could be and so have made great pains to leaven the script with fine dialogue throughout (and quite more than "fine" in many instances), as well as some nicely observed characters moments. Trouble also benefits from Michael Curtiz's assured direction, which knows how to sidestep the pitfalls in the stock situations. But the film's biggest asset is its cast. John Wayne, still tough but facing a personal crisis rather than having to face warriors of one kind or another, turns in a solid, appealing performance. Donna Reed is dynamite as his social worker-cum-love-interest, and the chemistry between the two is perfect. There's also considerable chemistry (of a different sort) between Wayne and little Sherry Jackson, even if the young actress occasionally gets a bit too cute. And Charles Coburn, of course, is his reliably soft-but-crusty self. Trouble has its problems, but it's an engaging way to pass the afternoon.