The Green Promise (1949)

In the rustic depths of Millwood, a widowed patriarch, Old Man Matthews, uproots his family of four - Deborah, Phineas, Abigail, and Susan - transplanting them from their last farm, now a barren echo of its former glory, to a newly acquired one. Matthews, hardened by a lifetime tilling the soil, clings stubbornly to his traditional methods, believing his wisdom to be superior to any modern approach. He adorns his dictatorship with a veneer of democracy, using family votes where the outcomes are manipulated by his sway over Abby and Phin. Deborah, the eldest daughter, silently harbors doubts about the viability of the expensive new farm, while young Susan yearns for a small sum of money to raise two lambs - a desire her father dismisses as selfish in his quest for a new tractor. Amidst these familial tensions, enter David Barkley, the local agricultural county agent, whose advice falls on Matthews' obstinately deaf ears. Barkley, however, finds an ally in Susan, as he encourages her participation in the local 4H club, and a lamb project that she eagerly wishes to join. An unspoken attraction blossoms between him and Deborah, who both work tirelessly to salvage the farm from Matthews' damaging practices. A rich tapestry of rural life, "The Green Promise" is a tale of tradition clashing with progress, love budding amidst adversity, and a family's struggle to adapt to new landscapes, both physical and emotional. The Matthews' journey will keep you riveted as they navigate their lives on the precipice of change and calamity, with the endurance of their farm and their relationships hanging in the balance.

The Green Promise is a drama movie featuring Marguerite Chapman and directed by William D. Russell.

The Green Promise is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on DistroTV, Public Domain Movies, The Film Detective and Tubi TV and it's also available on Amazon Prime Video.

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