Our Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945)

Its title taken from the Song of Solomon. II. 15 ("Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes"), this pastoral family drama proved the perfect antidote to a war-weary audience. While the world war was finally nearing its end, the home fires burned brightly and little Margaret O'Brien packed 'em in at the local bijous. Margaret was almost a force of nature in the early '40s, arguably the most natural child actress there ever was. Our Vines Have Tender Grapes stands as a testament to her remarkable talent and no other child actress could have made Selma Jacobson more believable. MGM knew very well what they had, and Margaret earned above-title billing right alongside Edward G. Robinson. The latter is equally letter-perfect as the hardworking farmer and if the Jewish Robinson may not have been the obvious choice to play a Norwegian immigrant, he overcame that handicap by offering an affectionate portrayal of a quiet, dedicated family man. Partially filmed on director Roy Rowland's ranch in the San Fernando Valley, Our Vines Have Tender Grapes became the surprising victim of a lawsuit, filed in 1946 by original author George Victor Martin's former wife, Selma, who claimed that the film was based on her life and that its exhibition had caused her to suffer "undue public attention, mental anguish, and humiliation." The outcome of the suit, however, is not known. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide