Forest Fiction and Film: Home from the Hill

 

"Here he lies where he longed to be; Home is the sailor, home from the sea, And the hunter home from the hill"

                                                                                           -Robert Louis Stevenson

I recently had the pleasure of viewing the classic MGM movie, Home From the Hill starring Robert Mitchum.  The DVD had crossed my path a few times in the library sorting room and intrigued me.  I decided to check it out last weekend and was treated to lush rustic visuals, colorful storytelling, and a dramatic plot full of family secrets.  To top it all off, there is a love triangle.  The story is about a young boy who is trying to become a man by learning how to hunt with his father and friend.  Eventually he learns about love and pain too.  Directed by Vincent Minelli, who was reknowed for his use of color in film.  Fans of westerns and classic drama will devour this!

Home from the Hill is based on a book by Willim Humphrey.  The story really stuck in my mind all week, so I decided to look for the book at the library to read.   The novel was available for checkout, as was a collection of short stories perfect for fall!  The book is very different from the movie and is missing a major character from the movie.  Still worth a read though!