Light-hearted, old-style romance about a farm-hand who arranges to buy a pair of mules from his employer. No one is able to handle the mules and he must train them. Adding to his dilemma, he pursues his boss's daughter who gets her kicks out of keeping him guessing about her true feelings. Of course, at the end he tames both the mules and the girl.
Acting
Walter Brennan being Walter Brennan — three-time Oscar winner doing what he does.
Practical Effects
Real mule training sequences. No CGI, just stubborn animals and nervous actors.
Costume
Peak 1948 Technicolor farm fashion. June Haver's gingham game is unmatched.
Director
F. Hugh Herbert
June Haver
Rad McGill
Lon McCallister
Daniel 'Snug' Dominy
Walter Brennan
Tony Maule
Anne Revere
Judith Dominy
Natalie Wood
Eufraznee 'Bean' McGill
Robert Karnes
Stretch Dominy
Henry Hull
Milt Dominy
Tom Tully
Robert 'Roarer' McGill
Marilyn Monroe
Betty (uncredited)
G. Pat Collins
Mike Malone (uncredited)
Edward Gargan
Ted (uncredited)
Herbert Heywood
Dugan (uncredited)
Matt McHugh
Frank the Barber (uncredited)
Lee MacGregor
Ches Forrester (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Natalie Wood's first credited role at age 10, playing June Haver's little sister. She'd already been acting for four years under studio contract.
The title comes from a traditional mule-driving command ('scudda hoo!' = go left, 'scudda hay!' = go right). The studio worried audiences wouldn't get it and tested 'Summer Lightning' as an alternative. It tanked.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
US
