france gray patton write this beloved novel of a small town spinster . she be a determined woman and one who turn a wrecked life and an enormous family debt into a reason to teach generation of new england young people the virtue of go through the pain to get the gain . the theme of this film be the positive effect of her rough hewn self assertiveness training on her student . jennifer jones play the schoolteacher and from youth to old age and and very winningly . the film be direct by veteran henry koster . others in the very large and amiably charm cast include robert stack and fine actor robert douglas and kipp hamilton and charismatic peggy knudsen and chuck connors and jerry paris and mary wickes and leslie bradley and marshall thompson and biff elliott and richard deacon and many more . what happen in the story be that miss dove fall ill one day during class and have to be carry from her student and take to the hospital . the town generation and all teach by this remarkable woman and react while some come from far away or start stopping by the hospital for news while and this lead to a flashback of how her life course be change by her father money problem and the desertion of her by her erstwhile suitor while how she then vow to pay back every cent of her father debt and though she be not personally responsible while and how she begin teach school and have go on do so . this intelligent and heart warming and think provoke story have a climax in her medical crisis and a happy end while it be not perhaps a great film and but miss dove be very probably a great character and and one many can learn from long after the film have end . every element here be well craft and contribute to a surprisingly entertaining and most believable presentation . music be by leigh harline and cinematography by leon shamroy with contribution by lyle wheeler and many others . cool and beautiful and and as fascinating a be the lady herself .