Hard times hit "Saint Anthony's College" and blustery old Charles Coburn (as Matthew William Burke) is advised to close the university, which is $170,000 in debt. Believing "the Lord will provide," Father Coburn reads God's advice in Deuteronomy 32:15, "The beloved grew fat, and kicked." So, he hires washed-up football coach John Wayne (as Stephen "Steve" Aloysius Williams) to turn the school's team into money-making winners. Although initially refusing, Mr. Wayne decides to accept the Priest's offer when "Domestic Relations Court" officer Donna Reed (as Alice Singleton) catches him with a hangover and dirty dishes...
Wayne's whorish ex-wife, Marie Windsor (as Anne), isn't interested in their daughter, telling Wayne, "I want you to visit me" since her new husband only raises her "to the heights" with his checkbook. Wayne appreciates Ms. Windsor's directness, but declines. He moves to the Christian school with cute eleven-year-old tomboy Sherry Jackson (as Carol). Ms. Reed sees the wholesome environment as an improvement, but still feels heavy drinking and smoking Wayne is a "degenerate" influence on his daughter. To make matters worse, Wayne has psychoanalyzed Reed as a sexually uptight virgin who needs to be taken by force
"Trouble Along the Way" is both intentionally and unintentionally funny. It's filled with clichés, like Wayne's "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" motto. Before his "you-know-you-want-it" moment with Reed, Wayne issues some amusing guidelines for lonely women, "In the best Christian tradition, I'm gonna return good for evil," he advises Reed, "Start winking at strange men. Drop your gloves anytime you're in an elevator with an eligible bachelor. Go boat-riding with lonesome sailors. Get out on the town! Let life rub up against ya! And, then maybe some man'll do this to ya!" ...LOL... At least, young Jackson is endearing.
**** Trouble Along the Way (4/4/53) Michael Curtiz ~ John Wayne, Donna Reed, Charles Coburn, Sherry Jackson
Wayne's whorish ex-wife, Marie Windsor (as Anne), isn't interested in their daughter, telling Wayne, "I want you to visit me" since her new husband only raises her "to the heights" with his checkbook. Wayne appreciates Ms. Windsor's directness, but declines. He moves to the Christian school with cute eleven-year-old tomboy Sherry Jackson (as Carol). Ms. Reed sees the wholesome environment as an improvement, but still feels heavy drinking and smoking Wayne is a "degenerate" influence on his daughter. To make matters worse, Wayne has psychoanalyzed Reed as a sexually uptight virgin who needs to be taken by force
"Trouble Along the Way" is both intentionally and unintentionally funny. It's filled with clichés, like Wayne's "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" motto. Before his "you-know-you-want-it" moment with Reed, Wayne issues some amusing guidelines for lonely women, "In the best Christian tradition, I'm gonna return good for evil," he advises Reed, "Start winking at strange men. Drop your gloves anytime you're in an elevator with an eligible bachelor. Go boat-riding with lonesome sailors. Get out on the town! Let life rub up against ya! And, then maybe some man'll do this to ya!" ...LOL... At least, young Jackson is endearing.
**** Trouble Along the Way (4/4/53) Michael Curtiz ~ John Wayne, Donna Reed, Charles Coburn, Sherry Jackson