Scudda-Hoo! Scudda-Hay! Reviews

This is a good movie about, of all things, training mules. The title refers to the yells trainers make while putting the beasts through their paces. McCallister is a young man who has just bought two mules from farmer Tully and now has to go to work for the man in order to pay off the purchase price. McCallister's stepmother, Revere, is a hard-bitten woman who has no sympathy for her stepson and showers her attentions on her natural son, Karnes. McCallister's father, Hull, is at a loss to control the relationship between him and Revere, which is rapidly disintegrating. Brennan is a veteran muler who befriends the youth and helps him stave off Tully's attempts to get the animals back. Tully's daughter is the attractive Haver, and it isn't long before she and McCallister are in love. She sides with him against her father and gives the old man a piece of her mind in one particularly good sequence. Tully's other daughter is Wood, who was appearing in her eighth movie at the age of 10. Marilyn Monroe had just signed a contract with the studio and her bit was snipped from the film, although there is a brief cut to her and Colleen Townsend as they row a canoe, but their faces cannot be discerned. The fun in the movie is in the good-natured way rural Americana is portrayed. Veteran scripter F. Hugh Herbert was directing his first movie in 15 years and did a fine job of keeping the action rolling, the love story sweet, and the villains menacing.