Expert: Mel - 5/15/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi,  I'm searching for a B&W film from the 1950's, possibly early 60's.  Here's what I remember.  It was about a girl who hops a train to go see her estranged father.  She meets a young man on the train and he goes with her to the city where her father is.  I believe they go to his business.  I've been trying to find this film for years, and I've never found anyone who thought it was familiar.  I hope you can help.  Thanks so much.  Denise

ANSWER: Hello Denise,

I have a problem with this one. Your story outline neatly fits the film "The Journey Of Natty Gann", but that was in colour and wasn't made until 1985. Here's a link to the film's trailer......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leaqKfAB12o

STORY OUTLINE: Natty Gann (played by Meredith Salenger) is a young Depression era girl whose single-parent father leaves her behind in Chicago while he goes to Washington State to look for work in the timber industry. Natty runs away from the guardian she was left with to follow Dad. She befriends a wolf that has been abused in dog fights, hops a freight train west, meets a young man called Harry (played by John Cusack) who helps her, and is presumed dead when her wallet is found after the train crashes. Her Dad becomes bitter and endangers himself in his new job. Meanwhile Natty has a series of adventures and mis-adventures as she continues her journey west.

I'm afraid I can't think of a similar film from the 50's/60's.

Hope that's of some help. Cheers.......Mel.





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Mel, do you think this might have been perhaps a Playhouse 90 or one of the shows like that?  Do you have any idea where else I can try to find the answer?  I'm pretty sure I didn't hallucinate this story, but I seem to be the only one who knows it.  The Natty Gann story has a similar outline, but was a much simpler story, almost like a play.  Thanks again for your help.  Denise

Answer
Hello again, Denise,

Well, I've been doing a lot of research into this one for you, and, with the help of an Internet colleague, I think I may have the answer for you.

There was a little-known film made in 1965 called "Wild Seed". It was made in black & white by Universal as part of the studio's short-lived "new talent" policy, which permitted untried directors (in this case Brian G. Hutton) a low-cost opportunity to prove themselves with a feature film.  

"Wild Seed" was the story of a young girl, Daffy (played by Celia Kaye), who runs away from her east coast foster home to travel west to Los Angeles in the hope of meeting her biological father. On the way she is befriended by a young drifter, Fargo (played by Michael Parks), who helps her on her journey.

Here's a link:  http://tinyurl.com/p6q4tm


If that's not the one, then I don't know what else to suggest.

Glad to be of help. Cheers........Mel.