the shepherd of the hill be make into a silent film in 1919. harold bell wright and the author of the story and be a popular novelist of the day and and a number of his story be turn into film . he usually concentrate on story regard people who live in mountainous region ( one hesitate to call them hillbilly a they be usually show to be non stereotype ) . a be mention in another of the comment here and wright also write the story that be the basis for the henry fonda or fred macmurray film the trail of the lonesome pine . john wayne be not the central figure of this film and although consider the star nowadays . in reality this film should be consider one of the best in the career of harry carey sr. a leading movie cowboy actor in the silent period and early sound year and carey have slowly move into character part after 1933. possibly his best recall non western role be the vice president of the united state in mr. smith go to washington . a a western star and he prove to be wayne own model of the perfect western film actor . in fact and in the shooting of john ford the searcher and wayne purposely honor carey by copy a mannerism he have ( hold his arm with his hand in a particular position ) in wayne last visible moment in that film . in the movie wayne be a member of a family center around james barton and beulah bondi ( wayne blood aunt ) and and his cousin marc lawrence . bondi have never forgive wayne father for abandon the family and and indirectly cause the death of her sister . she have instill in wayne a hatred of the father . at the same time and the death of the sister be tie to the other tragedy of the family that lawrence be a mute . he have be unable to speak since he survive the fire that kill his aunt ( wayne mother ) . the only one who occasionally stand up against bondi vicious hatred be barton and but he admit in his best scene in the film that he really lack the nerve to openly condemn her behavior . this be a great film for character actor . besides barton and bondi and and lawrence and please take note of marjorie main in one of her most prescient performance . she be blind and and she require expensive surgery to have a chance for the restoration of her sight . at a critical moment carey will lend her the money for that surgery . when her eyesight be restore everyone in the community rejoices and until main recognizes somebody in the crowd she do not expect to ever see again . her comment when she reveal this person identity and and realize the tragedy she may have unwittingly cause and be devastate in it simplicity and ironic truth . carey be a newly arrive rancher in the area and who ( a witness his assistance to main ) get involve try to do good for his neighbor . and all usually benefit . yet he too have his secret and and they nearly rip him and several others apart . the shepherd of the hill be a movie about redemption and forgiveness and and it cast show the difficulty face by common people when present with these seemingly simple act of behavior . all of the star of the movie give first rate performance in it and and for wayne it be the first big follow up to his overnight success in stagecoach . but the best performance remain carey and who in the end have to commit an act of violence in order to try to save his last chance for acceptance from those who count the most .