The Yearling (1947): Cast, Ratings & Plot
The Yearling is a 1947 drama western directed by Clarence Brown, starring Gregory Peck, Chill Wills and Forrest Tucker. It is based on The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. It runs 2 hours 8 minutes. It won 2 Oscars, including Art Direction (Color) and Cinematography (Color), and 3 awards in all. Critics gave it 89 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 8m (128 min)
- Director
- Clarence Brown
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Yearling About?
The premise of The Yearling without spoilers, adapted from The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A young boy growing up in the rural wilderness forms a deep and lasting bond with a fawn, bringing unexpected joy and disruption to his family's life. As he matures, the boy's connection with the wild animal tests the limits of his family's stability and challenges conventional notions of belonging. The story explores themes of love, loss, and the enduring power of nature in a poignant coming-of-age tale.
The Yearling Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- deer
- fawn
- coming of age
- pulitzer prize source
- dog vs. bear fight
- raccoon
- sweet potato pone
- fireplace
- sewing
- 11 year old
- barefoot boy
- bear
+38 more Show fewer
- dog
- rifle
- bear hunt
- reference to jacksonville florida
- wading through water
- swamp
- climbing a tree
- running
- father and son share a bed
- wounded dog
- food
- eating
- horseback riding
- island
- woods
- hunt
- wound
- loss of blood
- black bear
- fistfight
- heavy rain
- candlelight
- family farm
- shotgun
- horse drawn plow
- split rail fence
- rattlesnake bite
- river ferry
- reference to a stillborn baby
- prologue
- lake george florida
- civil war veteran
- gun backfire
- injured dog
- bartering
- log cabin
- muzzle loader
- treehouse
The Yearling Cast
Gregory Peck leads the cast, with Chill Wills and Forrest Tucker. Directed by Clarence Brown; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Clarence Brown
Also Starring in The Yearling
· 6 moreMore from Clarence Brown
More films directed by Clarence Brown, best-rated first: National Velvet, Angels in the Outfield, Plymouth Adventure and When in Rome.
The Yearling Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Yearling 89 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 89 Metascore
User score 7.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 65% User score
See on TMDB
The Yearling Plot Summary
What happens in The Yearling from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the rustic backwoods of Florida, a gentle-hearted young boy named Jody Baxter lives with his parents, Ora and Ezra “Penny” Baxter, on a small farm that has been in their family for generations. The aftermath of the Civil War has left its scars, but it’s not just the remnants of conflict that haunt them; the memory of Jody’s six older siblings, who never had the chance to live, weighs heavily on his parents’ hearts. Despite Ora’s well-intentioned efforts, she finds it challenging to connect with her only surviving child, while Jody’s love for the outdoors and his family flourishes.
Full summary
The whole story of The Yearling, scene by scene
The Yearling Awards & Nominations
The Yearling won 2 Oscars, including Art Direction (Color) and Cinematography (Color), and 3 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Oscars 1947, with 2 wins from 7 nominations.
3 wins8 nominations2 ceremonies
-
Oscars 1947 2 wins · 7 nominations- Won Art Direction (Color)
- Won Cinematography (Color)
- Nominated Actor – Gregory Peck
- Nominated Actress – Jane Wyman
- Nominated Best Motion Picture
-
Golden Globes 1947 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Best Actor in a Leading Role – Gregory Peck
The Yearling Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer The Yearling (1946) - Trailer
How Well Do You Know The Yearling?
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
What is the name of Jody Baxter's pet?
The Yearling Also Known As
11 alternative titles, including “Die Wildnis ruft” and “Il cucciolo”.
- Also known as
-
- Die Wildnis ruft
- Il cucciolo
- El despertar
- Jody et le faon
- Az őzgida
- Virtude Selvagem
- Θρύλοι του Δάσους
- Оленёнок
- 鹿苑长春
- 가장 특별한 선물
- Puiul
Seen The Yearling?
Movies Like The Yearling
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Old Yeller, Cross Creek and Where the Red Fern Grows.
The Yearling FAQ: Cast, Awards & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, the book behind it, awards and post-credit scenes of The Yearling, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Yearling?
The Yearling runs 2 hours 8 minutes (128 minutes).
When was The Yearling released?
The Yearling was released on May 1, 1947.
Who directed The Yearling?
The Yearling was directed by Clarence Brown.
More films by Clarence Brown Who is in the cast of The Yearling?
The Yearling stars Gregory Peck, Chill Wills and Forrest Tucker, among 10 credited actors.
How is The Yearling rated?
The Yearling has 89 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.
Is The Yearling based on a book?
Yes. The Yearling is adapted from The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.
What awards did The Yearling win?
The Yearling won 3 awards from 8 nominations, including Art Direction (Color) at the Oscars 1947.
Does The Yearling have a post-credit scene?
No. The Yearling has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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