I'm not even a Janet Leigh fan, but she was absolutely adorable in her first movie, Romance at Rosy Ridge. This is a small domestic drama set during the Civil War, with a very interesting storyline. The family of Rosy Ridge, Thomas Mitchell, Selena Royle, Janet Leigh, and Dean Stockwell, are working their land and waiting for the oldest son, Marshall Thompson, to return from the battlefield. Van Johnson comes across their farm, and they take him in for a few days in exchange for help around the house. It's pretty easy to guess Van and Janet are going to fall in love. After all, she's just discovering her hormones, and he's the first man she's seen in years. But he's hiding something.
Chances are you've never heard of this movie. But I recommend you try to find a copy of it or watch it the next time it's featured on television. Van Johnson will actually impress you with his conflicted performance, Janet Leigh is very young and sweet, and Selena Royle completely steals the show. Personifying the "long suffering mom" archetype, you can actually see the decades of hard work etched on her forehead. She's happy for Janet when she falls in love, but she knows what's in store for her becoming a wife and mother. It's not as rosy as it seems in the beginning. There are far more famous character actors than character actresses, but Selena Royle belongs on the list. Watch this movie to find out why.
Chances are you've never heard of this movie. But I recommend you try to find a copy of it or watch it the next time it's featured on television. Van Johnson will actually impress you with his conflicted performance, Janet Leigh is very young and sweet, and Selena Royle completely steals the show. Personifying the "long suffering mom" archetype, you can actually see the decades of hard work etched on her forehead. She's happy for Janet when she falls in love, but she knows what's in store for her becoming a wife and mother. It's not as rosy as it seems in the beginning. There are far more famous character actors than character actresses, but Selena Royle belongs on the list. Watch this movie to find out why.