Based on a book by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, this is a lovingly made, glowingly photographed (Technicolor was never richer than in Charles Rosher and Leonard Smith's hands) and completely unforced study of a backwoods boy and his love for a tame fawn that must eventually, inevitably be returned to the wild. Gregory Peck and Jane Wyman exude sympathy and understanding as the boy's parents, and the story is compellingly told through a series of small but enthralling incidents by Clarence Brown, still at MGM, where he had been for many years and was once Garbo's favourite director. Oscars for photography and art direction, plus a special award to Claude Jarman Jr (the boy) as outstanding child actor of the year.


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