Spencer's Mountain is a 1963 American family drama film written, directed, and produced by Delmer Daves from the 1961 novel of the same name by Earl Hamner Jr. and starring Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara The supporting cast features early appearances in their careers by James MacArthur, Veronica Cartwright, and Victor French, while longtime Hollywood actor Donald Crisp portrays "Grandpa", his final screen role, and Wally Cox, Virginia Gregg, Lillian Bronson, Whit Bissell and Dub Taylor also appear. The movie, although set in Wyoming rather than the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, is a forerunner (or early alternate version) of the television series The Waltons. Plot The film centers on the trials and tribulations of the Spencers, a family living in the Grand Teton Mountains of Wyoming during the early 1960s. As the patriarch of a large and growing family, dirt-poor Clay Spencer is fiercely independent, yet dedicated to his family. He navigates issues of religion and education in order to eke out a brighter future for his family. Eldest son Clayboy aspires to attend college and build a career away from the mountain. To do so, he must earn a scholarship and be approved by university officials. He fears his rough-hewn family, particularly father Clay Sr., may handicap him in these pursuits. Cast Henry Fonda as Clay Spencer Maureen O'Hara as Olivia Spencer James MacArthur as Clayboy Spencer Donald Crisp as Grandpa Spencer Wally Cox as Preacher Goodman Mimsy Farmer as Claris Coleman Virginia Gregg as Miss Parker Lillian Bronson as Grandma Spencer Whit Bissell as Dr. Campbell Hayden Rorke as Colonel Coleman Kathy Bennett as Minnie-Cora Cook Dub Taylor as Percy Cook Hope Summers as Mother Ida Ken Mayer as Mr. John Unbilled Susan Young as Shirley Spencer Gary Young as Mat Spencer Michael Young as Mark Spencer Ricky Young as Luke Spencer Rocky Young as John Spencer Veronica Cartwright as Becky Spencer Kym Karath as Pattie-Cake Spencer Barbara McNair as graduation singer Mike Henry as Spencer brother Victor French as Spencer brother Larry D. Mann as Spencer brother Med Flory as Spencer brother Michael Greene as Spencer brother Jim O'Hara (Maureen O'Hara's brother) as Spencer brother Bronwyn FitzSimons [Maureen O'Hara's daughter] as Dean Beck's secretary Rory Mallinson as campus cop Production Spencer's Mountain features the majestic scenery of Wyoming's Teton Range, as photographed by cinematographer Charles Lawton in color using Panavision. It was filmed in and around