Again Pioneers
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
William Beaudine
Colleen Townsend
Tom Powers
Sarah Padden
Regis Toomey
Jimmy Hunt
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In the small town of Fairview, lawyer and community leader Ken Keeler learns that children from "The Patch," a squalid migrant camp on the outskirts of town, will soon be attending Fairview's school. Meanwhile, the Ashbys, a humble family of migrant workers, are driving through Fairview when their dilapidated old car breaks down in front of the Keeler home. While Pa Ashby fixes the car, his son Nathaniel strikes up a friendship with Ken's younger son Kenny. At a town meeting that evening, the citizens of Fairview speak out vehemently against The Patch, which they view as a threat to the health and morals of their community. Only Ken's daughter Sallie, who is deeply religious and committed to social change, speaks on behalf of The Patch children. The townspeople appoint Ken to find a solution by the next town meeting in two weeks, and later, at a gathering at her home, Sallie denounces the others for their smugness and hypocrisy. On Sunday, the Ashby family, now living in a run-down house in Patchtown owned by a farmer named Reader, put on their best clothes and go to the church in Fairview, but they are too intimidated by the hostile glances of the citizens to enter the building. During the church service, Ken wrestles with his conscience, weighing biblical injuctions to help one's fellow man against his neighbors' opinions. Ken visits The Patch, and after surveying the dire poverty, he encounters Dave Harley, a Christian missionary. Dave tells Ken that the American dream is dying because people are losing touch with the church, and he opens Ken's eyes to the plight of the migrant worker. Back at the Keeler home, Kenny is trying to get his new friend Nathaniel a place on the neighborhood softball team, despite the cruel teasing of the other children, when his older brother Malcolm recognizes Nathaniel as one of The Patch children and sends the boy away. Ken is furious when he learns of this, and he and Sallie call on the Ashby family to apologize. When Sallie expresses her disillusionment with America, Ma Ashby reproaches her, and she touches the Keelers with her religious faith. At Ma's request, Ken and Sallie attend services in Patchtown's makeshift chapel, as newspaper headlines continue to call for action against Patchtown. The night of the town meeting, Chief Marlin takes Reader aside to offer a "suggestion" regarding his tenants, the Ashby family. Ken tells the townspeople he has come to see that they were wrong, and that their selfishness is a bigger threat than Patchtown. Sallie listens proudly as her father speaks of having rediscovered the American dream and his Christian values, and submits a plan of action for helping the residents of Patchtown. Later that night, the Ashby family, having been evicted by Reader, sadly moves on to the next town while Ma recites the Lord's Prayer.
Director
William Beaudine
Cast
Colleen Townsend
Tom Powers
Sarah Padden
Regis Toomey
Jimmy Hunt
Evelyn Brent
Larry Olsen
Larry Carr
Erville Alderson
Peggy Wynne
Malinda Plowman
Gene Roth
Judith Allen
Harry Cheshire
Hart Wayne
Louis Mason
John Parlow
Gertrude Astor
Russell Hicks
Raymond Bond
William Neff
Connie Evans
Francis Morris
Jerry Mickelsen
Gary Pagett
Crew
Oren Evans
Irving Gertz
Maurice Golden
Gary Harris
Paul F. Heard
Doc Joos
Al Joseph
Marcel Lepicard
Oviatt Mcconnell
Ray Mercer
Barney A. Sarecky
Alan Shilin
Frank Sylos
Tommy Thompson
Frederick R. Thorne
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Although the viewed print contained a 1950 copyright statement, the film is not listed in the Catalog of Copyright Entries. The title shown in the onscreen credits is Again Pioneers, but some reviews added ellipses between the words and an exclamation point at the end. Hollywood Reporter news items include Pat Gleason, Elsie Rogers, Felice Richmond, Allan Ray and Doris Carr in the cast, but their appearance in the final film has not been confirmed. A modern source adds Philo McCullough, Hank Mann, Bess Flowers, Marjorie "Babe" Kane and Ralph Brooks to the cast. Again Pioneers was Evelyn Brent's last film.
