Spencer’s Mountain (1963): Cast & Plot
Spencer’s Mountain is a 1963 family drama directed by Delmer Daves, starring Henry Fonda as Clay Spencer, Donald Crisp and Veronica Cartwright. It runs 1 hour 58 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 58m (118 min)
- Director
- Delmer Daves
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Spencer’s Mountain About?
The premise of Spencer’s Mountain without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
His teacher says, “The world steps aside to let a man pass, if he knows where he is going.” Clay Spencer and his wife Olivia live in a mountain town. When Clay isn’t drinking, he builds the house he promised Olivia. He celebrates his eldest son becoming the first Spencer to attend college, if the boy can resist a girl’s charms and find tuition money.
Spencer’s Mountain Themes & Keywords
· 31 tags- wyoming
- grand teton national park
- name in title
- surname in title
- written by director
- funeral
- farmer
- mountain
- doctor
- large family
- marriage
- chainsaw
+19 more Show fewer
- preacher
- loss of father
- college
- grandfather
- tree cutting
- cemetery
- begins with narration
- mountain named after character
- sister sister relationship
- mother son relationship
- mother daughter relationship
- father son relationship
- father daughter relationship
- family relationships
- brother sister relationship
- brother brother relationship
- based on novel
- character name in title
- title spoken by character
Spencer’s Mountain Cast & Characters
Henry Fonda leads the cast as Clay Spencer, with Donald Crisp as Grandpa Spencer and Veronica Cartwright as Becky Spencer (uncredited). Directed by Delmer Daves; 37 actors are credited in all.
- Director Delmer Daves
-
Henry Fonda as Clay Spencer -
Donald Crisp as Grandpa Spencer -
Veronica Cartwright as Becky Spencer (uncredited) -
Michael Greene as Spencer Brother (uncredited)
Also Starring in Spencer’s Mountain
· 33 more- Lillian Bronson Grandma Spencer
- James MacArthur Clayboy Spencer
- Susan Young Shirley Spencer (uncredited)
- Michael Young Mark Spencer (uncredited)
- Kym Karath Pattie-Cake Spencer (uncredited)
- Michele Daves Donnie Spencer (uncredited)
- Ricky Young Luke Spencer (uncredited)
- Rocky Young John Spencer (uncredited)
- Maureen O'Hara Olivia Spencer
- Hayden Rorke Colonel Coleman
- Mimsy Farmer Claris Coleman
- Whit Bissell Dr. Campbell
- Dub Taylor Percy Cook
- Mike Henry Spencer Brother (uncredited)
- Rory Mallinson Cop (uncredited)
- Virginia Gregg Miss Parker
Show all 37 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Guy Wilkerson Slim Temple (uncredited)
- Larry D. Mann Spencer Brother (uncredited)
- James O'Hara Spencer Brother (uncredited)
- Hope Summers Mother Ida
- Rusty Lane University Dean (uncredited)
- Wally Cox Preacher Goodman
- Victor French Spencer Brother (uncredited)
- Med Flory Spencer Brother (uncredited)
- Robert "Buzz" Henry Ambulance Driver (uncredited)
- Gary Young Mat Spencer (uncredited)
- Barbara McNair Graduation Singer (uncredited)
- Ken Mayer Mr. John
- Martin Eric Odell Harper (uncredited)
- Kathy Bennett Minnie-Cora Cook
- Bronwyn FitzSimons Dean's Secretary (uncredited)
- Ray Savage Spencer Brother (uncredited)
- William Breen Mountain Boy (uncredited)
More from Delmer Daves
More films directed by Delmer Daves, best-rated first: 3:10 to Yuma, Dark Passage, The Battle of the Villa Fiorita and Youngblood Hawke.
Spencer’s Mountain Plot Summary
What happens in Spencer’s Mountain from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Clay Spencer Henry Fonda is the patriarch of a dirt-poor, close-knit family living in the Grand Teton Mountains of Wyoming in the early 1960s. He is fiercely independent yet deeply devoted to his kin, weaving through questions of faith and education as he fights to secure a brighter future for his children.
Clay Sr. is the oldest of eight boisterous brothers who all live within visiting distance, and his elderly parents stay nearby on the mountain in a place that has earned the name Spencer’s Mountain, a testament to the family’s pioneer roots and stubborn resilience.
Full summary
The whole story of Spencer’s Mountain, scene by scene
Spencer’s Mountain Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer Spencer's Mountain (1963) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]
How Well Do You Know Spencer’s Mountain?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who plays the patriarch Clay Spencer in the film?
Cars in Spencer’s Mountain
9 cars on screen, including the 1942 Ford 1½-Ton and the 1956 Ford F-100.
-
1942 Ford 1½-Ton Important role -
1956 Ford F-100 Important role -
1937 Ford V8 Standard Important role -
1962 Cadillac Ambulance Minor role
Spencer’s Mountain Also Known As
10 alternative titles, including “Quella nostra estate” and “Fiebre en la sangre”.
- Also known as
-
- Quella nostra estate
- Fiebre en la sangre
- Os Nove Irmãos
- Sommer der Erwartung
- La Montagne des neuf Spencer
- Гора Спенсера
- کوه اسپنسر
- 태양은 가슴마다
- Febre a la sang
- 斯宾塞的山
Seen Spencer’s Mountain?
Movies Like Spencer’s Mountain
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Montana Story, Family and Let Him Go.
Spencer’s Mountain FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Spencer’s Mountain, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Spencer’s Mountain?
Spencer’s Mountain runs 1 hour 58 minutes (118 minutes).
When was Spencer’s Mountain released?
Spencer’s Mountain was released on May 16, 1963.
Who directed Spencer’s Mountain?
Spencer’s Mountain was directed by Delmer Daves.
More films by Delmer Daves Who is in the cast of Spencer’s Mountain?
Spencer’s Mountain stars Henry Fonda as Clay Spencer, Donald Crisp as Grandpa Spencer and Veronica Cartwright as Becky Spencer (uncredited), among 37 credited actors.
Does Spencer’s Mountain have a post-credit scene?
No. Spencer’s Mountain has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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